CVE-2018-6785 in Jiangmin
Summary
by MITRE
In Jiangmin Antivirus 16.0.0.100, the driver file (KSysCall.sys) allows local users to cause a denial of service (BSOD) or possibly have unspecified other impact because of not validating input values from IOCtl 0x9A008254.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6785 resides within Jiangmin Antivirus version 16.0.0.100, specifically within its kernel-mode driver component known as KSysCall.sys. This driver operates at the highest privilege level within the Windows operating system, making it a critical attack surface for potential exploitation. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the driver's handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, particularly for the specific control code 0x9A008254. This particular IOCTL interface represents a communication channel between user-mode applications and the kernel-mode driver, enabling privileged operations that can directly impact system stability and security.
The technical flaw stems from the driver's failure to validate input parameters received through the IOCTL 0x9A008254 request. When a local user process sends malformed or unexpected data to this interface, the driver does not perform adequate sanitization or validation checks before processing the input. This validation gap creates a condition where malicious or malformed input can cause the driver to behave unpredictably, leading to system crashes or blue screen of death (BSOD) scenarios. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation vector since it requires local system access but can potentially be exploited to achieve more severe impacts including system instability or arbitrary code execution in certain configurations. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129: Improper Validation of Array Index, which encompasses issues where input validation fails to properly check array bounds or parameter values, leading to memory corruption or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a fundamental security weakness in the antivirus driver's architecture. Local users with minimal privileges can potentially trigger system crashes that may disrupt normal operations and create opportunities for further exploitation. The BSOD conditions can be particularly disruptive in enterprise environments where system uptime is critical, and the vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers who have already gained low-privilege access to escalate their privileges or cause persistent service disruptions. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest that beyond the immediate BSOD conditions, there may be potential for additional security consequences including privilege escalation or data corruption that could compromise the integrity of the system's security framework. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and system exploitation, specifically mapping to T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as local users could potentially craft malicious inputs to exploit this weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6785 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Jiangmin Antivirus software to version 16.0.0.101 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity patterns and consider disabling unnecessary driver interfaces to reduce attack surface. Additionally, organizations should enforce least privilege principles and ensure that antivirus drivers are properly signed and validated to prevent unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability underscores the importance of kernel-mode driver security and proper input validation practices, as even seemingly minor validation gaps can lead to significant system compromise. Regular security assessments of security software components and kernel drivers should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses that could potentially be exploited by attackers.