CVE-2018-9043 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 0x9c4060d0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9043 resides within Advanced SystemCare Ultimate version 11.0.1.58 and specifically targets the Monitor_win10_x64.sys kernel driver component. This driver serves as a critical system interface for monitoring and managing various system operations, making it a prime target for exploitation. The flaw manifests through insufficient input validation mechanisms within the driver's handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests, particularly for the specific control code 0x9c4060d0. This represents a fundamental security weakness that undermines the integrity of the kernel-level driver interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to properly validate input parameters received through the specified IOCTL interface. When a local user submits crafted input data to the driver through the 0x9c4060d0 control code, the system lacks proper bounds checking, parameter validation, or sanitization routines. This absence of input validation creates a pathway for malicious input to traverse the driver's processing logic unimpeded, potentially leading to memory corruption or improper resource handling within kernel space. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation vector means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this weakness without requiring elevated privileges initially.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, though a blue screen of death (BSOD) represents the most immediate and visible consequence. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that the input validation failure could enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, system instability, or even remote code execution depending on the exploitation context. The BSOD occurrence represents a complete system crash that renders the affected system unusable until manual intervention or system reboot occurs, creating significant operational disruption. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability represents a critical weakness that could be leveraged by adversaries to establish persistent system control or to disrupt service availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9043 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening approaches. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to a patched version of Advanced SystemCare Ultimate that addresses the input validation deficiencies in the Monitor_win10_x64.sys driver. System administrators should also implement kernel-mode driver signature enforcement policies and consider disabling unnecessary kernel drivers to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-134, Use of Externally-Controlled Format String, demonstrating the intersection of improper input handling with kernel-level security flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1489, Service Stop, as it could enable both system disruption and privilege elevation. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring solutions to detect anomalous driver activity and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing kernel-level vulnerabilities to ensure rapid response to potential exploitation attempts.