CVE-2020-12964 in EPYC
Summary
by MITRE • 11/17/2021
A potential privilege escalation/denial of service issue exists in the AMD Radeon Kernel Mode driver Escape 0x2000c00 Call handler. An attacker with low privilege could potentially induce a Windows BugCheck or write to leak information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-12964 resides within the AMD Radeon Kernel Mode Driver's Escape 0x2000c00 Call handler, representing a critical security flaw that could enable privilege escalation or denial of service attacks. This issue affects Windows systems utilizing AMD graphics hardware and stems from improper input validation within the kernel-level driver component responsible for handling graphics-related escape calls. The vulnerability manifests when the driver fails to adequately validate parameters passed to the specific escape function, creating opportunities for exploitation that could compromise system integrity.
The technical flaw occurs in the kernel mode driver's handling of the 0x2000c00 escape call, which is part of AMD's graphics driver interface for Windows operating systems. When an unprivileged user process invokes this escape function with malformed or malicious parameters, the driver's validation mechanisms prove insufficient, potentially leading to memory corruption or information disclosure vulnerabilities. This weakness allows attackers to craft specific inputs that can trigger unexpected behavior within the kernel space, where the privilege level is elevated and system stability is at risk. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and falls within the broader category of kernel-mode exploitation techniques that can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential system instability and information leakage. An attacker with low privilege access could leverage this flaw to induce Windows BugCheck conditions, effectively causing system crashes or blue screen errors that result in denial of service. Additionally, the vulnerability may enable information leakage through memory corruption that could expose sensitive kernel data, potentially revealing system configuration details or other confidential information. The severity of this issue is compounded by the fact that kernel mode exploits are particularly dangerous because they operate at the highest privilege level and can bypass most security mechanisms that protect user-mode applications. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows operating systems that utilize AMD graphics drivers, making it a widespread concern for enterprise environments and individual users alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-12964 should prioritize immediate driver updates from AMD, as the company has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems receive the necessary updates promptly. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior related to graphics driver calls and escape functions. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it crucial for system administrators to maintain awareness of kernel-level activities and implement proper access controls to limit user privileges where possible. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be reinforced to minimize the attack surface, while security information and event management systems should be configured to alert on suspicious graphics driver activity. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on kernel-mode components can help identify similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.