CVE-2019-13156 in Cloud Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
NDrive(1.2.2).sys in Naver Cloud Explorer has a stack-based buffer overflow, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service when reading data from IOCTL handle.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13156 resides within the NDrive.sys kernel driver component of Naver Cloud Explorer version 1.2.2, representing a critical stack-based buffer overflow condition that fundamentally compromises system stability and security. This flaw manifests specifically when the driver processes IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests through handle operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the vulnerable kernel-mode component. The buffer overflow occurs due to insufficient bounds checking during data processing, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. Such memory corruption directly impacts the driver's ability to maintain proper execution flow and can result in unpredictable system behavior, ultimately leading to system crashes or complete denial of service conditions that render the affected system unusable.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with common kernel-mode exploitation techniques and maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious IOCTL requests that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing the stack to overflow and potentially corrupt critical execution pointers or return addresses. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates at the kernel level, where privileges are elevated and system integrity is paramount. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and specifically targets the kernel-mode execution environment to achieve unauthorized access and control over system resources.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple denial of service, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks that could potentially escalate privileges or compromise the entire system. When an attacker successfully triggers the buffer overflow, the system may experience crashes, reboots, or corrupted memory states that could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code within kernel space. The impact on system availability is immediate and severe, as legitimate users and processes lose access to critical system functions while the driver becomes unstable. Organizations utilizing Naver Cloud Explorer version 1.2.2 face significant risk of service interruption and potential data loss, particularly in enterprise environments where system uptime and reliability are mission-critical. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard user-level processes, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered without elevated access rights.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13156 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of Naver Cloud Explorer that contains patches for this specific vulnerability, as vendors typically release security updates to address known kernel-mode buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual IOCTL activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, deploying kernel-mode exploit detection mechanisms and maintaining up-to-date intrusion detection systems can help identify and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in kernel drivers, reinforcing industry best practices for secure coding and the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level components. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting the execution of potentially vulnerable kernel drivers to minimize attack surface and reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation attempts.