CVE-2018-9001 in Advanced SystemCare Ultimate
Summary
by MITRE
In Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 11.0.1.58, the driver file (Monitor_win7_x64.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 0x9c402000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9001 resides within Advanced SystemCare Ultimate version 11.0.1.58 and specifically targets the Monitor_win7_x64.sys driver component. This driver file operates at the kernel level on windows 7 64-bit systems and handles various system monitoring functions through windows io control requests. The flaw manifests when the driver fails to properly validate input parameters received through the ioctl 0x9c402000 request, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited by local attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the driver's ioctl handling routine. When a local user submits malicious input data to the specified ioctl request, the driver processes this information without proper sanitization or bounds checking. This lack of validation creates opportunities for memory corruption and system instability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, as the driver accepts unvalidated input that can lead to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local system access, making it accessible to any user account on the compromised system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, potentially leading to system crashes resulting in blue screen of death (bsod) scenarios. Local users can leverage this weakness to destabilize the operating system, causing unexpected reboots or system hangs that disrupt normal operations. Beyond immediate service interruption, the vulnerability may enable more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or information disclosure, depending on how the input validation failure manifests in memory corruption. The attack surface is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where local access might be obtained through social engineering or compromised user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9001 should focus on immediate patching of the Advanced SystemCare Ultimate software to the latest version that addresses the driver validation issue. System administrators should implement least privilege principles to limit local user access and monitor for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-level driver validation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious ioctl activity and driver loading patterns. Regular security assessments of system monitoring tools and driver components are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other software components.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the risks associated with third-party system optimization tools that install kernel drivers with elevated privileges. This case study reinforces the need for comprehensive driver security testing and the importance of validating all input parameters at kernel level interfaces. Security professionals should treat such vulnerabilities as potential entry points for more complex attack chains and ensure that system monitoring solutions are capable of detecting anomalous driver behavior. The vulnerability also emphasizes the necessity of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular security audits of installed software components that operate at privileged system levels.