CVE-2018-9040 in Advanced SystemCare Ultimate
Summary
by MITRE
In Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 11.0.1.58, the driver file (Monitor_win10_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 0x9c4060c4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9040 resides within Advanced SystemCare Ultimate version 11.0.1.58 and specifically targets the Monitor_win10_x64.sys driver component. This driver operates at the kernel level and interfaces with user-mode applications through Windows I/O Control codes, making it a critical component for system stability and security. The flaw manifests when the driver fails to properly validate input parameters received through IOCTL 0x9c4060c4, creating a pathway for malicious or unintended input to compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-131, Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size, as the driver does not adequately verify the size or content of data structures passed through the specified IOCTL code. When a local user submits malformed or unexpected input parameters to the driver via this particular I/O Control interface, the system's kernel becomes vulnerable to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable privilege escalation or system compromise, depending on the nature of the malformed input and the driver's subsequent handling of such data.
Operating within the Windows kernel space, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system availability and integrity. The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) condition represents the most immediate and visible consequence, as the kernel driver crashes and forces system reboot. However, the unspecified other impacts suggest potential for more sophisticated exploitation including privilege escalation or information disclosure. Attackers could leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard user-mode security controls and potentially establishing persistent system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability affects all systems running Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 11.0.1.58 where the vulnerable driver is installed, particularly those with local user access. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as local users could potentially exploit the driver to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local system access but does not require network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local privilege escalation is a concern.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate driver updates from the vendor, which typically involve patching the driver to implement proper input validation for IOCTL 0x9c4060c4. System administrators should also consider implementing driver signature enforcement and disabling unnecessary driver interfaces to reduce attack surface. Additional protective measures include monitoring for abnormal driver behavior, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments of system components. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of kernel-mode driver security and proper input validation practices as outlined in Microsoft's security development lifecycle guidelines, emphasizing that all kernel components must validate all inputs to prevent exploitation.