CVE-2019-5124 in ATIDXX64.DLL
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in AMD ATIDXX64.DLL driver, version 26.20.13001.50005. A specially crafted pixel shader can cause a denial of service. An attacker can provide a specially crafted shader file to trigger this vulnerability. This vulnerability can be triggered from VMware guest, affecting VMware host.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5124 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the AMD ATIDXX64.DLL graphics driver component, specifically affecting version 26.20.13001.50005. This issue resides in the Windows graphics subsystem and demonstrates how low-level driver vulnerabilities can cascade across virtualized environments. The flaw manifests when processing specially crafted pixel shaders, which are small programs that determine how pixels are rendered on screen. These shaders are fundamental components of graphics processing and are commonly used in gaming applications, video rendering software, and graphics-intensive applications. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway begins with the creation of a malicious shader file that, when processed by the affected driver, triggers an out-of-bounds memory access pattern. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 category of out-of-bounds read conditions, which represents a common class of memory safety issues in software development. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can potentially allow for privilege escalation or information disclosure depending on the execution context. In virtualized environments, this vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged by malicious code running within a VMware guest operating system to affect the host system. The attack vector specifically targets the graphics processing unit driver layer where guest VMs interact with host graphics hardware through VMware's graphics virtualization features. This cross-contamination between guest and host environments represents a significant security concern in virtualization architectures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of pixel shader data structures that are processed by the AMD graphics driver during rendering operations. When the driver encounters malformed shader data, it fails to properly validate array bounds before accessing memory locations, resulting in an out-of-bounds read condition. The specific memory access pattern that triggers this flaw involves the driver's handling of vertex and fragment shader inputs, where it attempts to read data from memory locations that extend beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This behavior can cause the driver to access memory that belongs to other processes or system components, potentially leading to system instability or crashes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level within the graphics driver, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard user-mode security mechanisms. The out-of-bounds read condition can cause the driver to crash, resulting in a denial of service that affects graphics rendering capabilities for the entire system. In some cases, the memory access patterns might reveal sensitive information from adjacent memory regions, though the primary impact remains denial of service. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be triggered through legitimate graphics processing operations, making it particularly stealthy and difficult to prevent through traditional access control measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5124 extends significantly beyond simple service disruption, particularly in enterprise and virtualized environments where graphics processing is critical. Organizations running VMware virtualization platforms face substantial risk as this vulnerability allows for potential privilege escalation attacks that could compromise the entire virtualization infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems where AMD graphics hardware is present, particularly those using the ATIDXX64.DLL driver component, which is commonly found in desktop and workstation environments. In gaming and multimedia applications, the denial of service impact can be severe, as users may experience sudden application crashes or complete system freezes during graphics-intensive operations. The vulnerability's ability to affect both guest and host systems within VMware environments creates a cascading security risk where a single compromised guest VM could potentially impact multiple other VMs or the physical host system. Network administrators and security teams must consider this vulnerability when assessing their security posture, particularly in environments where virtualization is extensively used for application delivery or desktop virtualization. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it can be triggered through legitimate graphics processing operations, making it difficult to distinguish between normal system behavior and malicious activity. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as the vulnerability can be leveraged through legitimate system interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5124 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. The most effective solution involves updating the AMD graphics driver to a version that addresses the out-of-bounds read condition, which typically requires downloading the latest driver from AMD's official website and applying it to affected systems. VMware users should also ensure that their virtualization platform is updated with the latest patches that address graphics virtualization issues. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual graphics processing patterns or memory access behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs within a virtualized environment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date graphics drivers, as outdated drivers often contain unpatched security flaws that can be exploited by attackers. Organizations should establish regular driver update policies that include graphics drivers as part of their standard security maintenance procedures. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for graphics-intensive applications to limit the potential impact of driver-level vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated drivers in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility with existing applications and hardware configurations. Additionally, organizations should review their virtualization security policies to ensure that graphics virtualization features are properly configured and monitored for potential exploitation attempts.