CVE-2018-9002 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 0x9c4060cc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9002 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 within the Windows operating system, making it a critical component that requires robust input validation mechanisms. The flaw manifests through improper handling of input values received through IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command 0x9c4060cc, which represents a method of communication between user-mode applications and kernel-mode drivers in the windows architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper input validation within the driver's handling of the specified IOCTL command. When a local user executes a malicious application that sends crafted input data to this IOCTL interface, the driver fails to validate the incoming parameters before processing them. This lack of validation creates a path for exploitation that can result in system instability. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can potentially lead to unspecified other impacts, suggesting that the malformed input processing could trigger more severe system behaviors including privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk for systems running the affected software version. The local nature of the exploit means that any user with access to the system can potentially trigger the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or shared computing scenarios. The occurrence of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) incidents indicates that the driver's failure to handle invalid input results in system crashes that can disrupt normal operations and potentially lead to data loss. The unspecified other impacts suggest that the vulnerability may provide additional attack vectors that could be leveraged by sophisticated adversaries to gain further system access or escalate privileges.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, which describes weaknesses that occur when a program does not validate or incorrectly validates input data. The specific manifestation follows ATT&CK technique T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as the local user can potentially leverage this weakness to gain elevated privileges. The driver-based nature of the vulnerability also connects to ATT&CK technique T1014, Rootkit, as kernel-level modifications or exploitation could potentially establish persistent access mechanisms. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in kernel-mode drivers, which forms a fundamental security weakness that can be exploited to compromise system integrity.
The recommended mitigations include immediate software updates from the vendor to address the input validation deficiency in the driver component. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems running Advanced SystemCare Ultimate are updated with the latest security patches. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts through unusual IOCTL activity patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of kernel-mode driver security testing and the need for proper input validation mechanisms in all system components that interface with user-mode applications.