CVE-2018-9006 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 0x9c402004.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9006 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 kernel level within the Windows operating system, making it a critical component that requires robust input validation mechanisms to prevent system instability and potential security breaches. The flaw manifests through improper handling of input values received via IOCTL (Input/Output Control) command 0x9c402004, which represents a specific interface mechanism used by device drivers to communicate with user-mode applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a lack of proper input validation within the driver's handling of the specified IOCTL command. When a local user sends crafted input data through this particular IOCTL interface, the driver fails to validate the incoming parameters before processing them. This absence of validation creates a condition where malicious or malformed input can cause the kernel to execute unintended operations, leading to system crashes and blue screen of death (BSOD) scenarios. The vulnerability represents a classic example of improper input validation that falls under CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows malicious inputs to disrupt normal program execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the description suggests potential for unspecified other impacts that could include privilege escalation or system compromise. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can potentially cause system instability that affects normal operations, while the unspecified impacts indicate the possibility of more severe consequences such as privilege elevation or arbitrary code execution within kernel space. The kernel-level nature of the driver means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to critical system resources, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for system administrators and security professionals.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1484, addressing "Execute Persistence, Evasion, and Credential Access." The local privilege escalation potential arises from the fact that attackers can leverage this kernel-level vulnerability to gain higher system privileges without requiring additional authentication. The attack surface is relatively limited since exploitation requires local access to the target system, but the potential for privilege escalation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local user access is not strictly controlled. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability when conducting risk assessments for systems running Advanced SystemCare Ultimate, as it represents a kernel-level weakness that could be exploited by attackers with local access to compromise entire systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9006 should focus on immediate patching of the Advanced SystemCare Ultimate software to the latest version that addresses this specific driver validation issue. System administrators should implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Additionally, monitoring for unusual system behavior or BSOD occurrences could help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel driver validation and input sanitization practices that should be enforced across all system components to prevent similar issues in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting kernel-level vulnerabilities.