CVE-2020-23736 in DaDa Accelerator
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2020
There is a local denial of service vulnerability in DaDa accelerator 5.6.19.816,, attackers can use constructed programs to cause computer crashes (BSOD).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-23736 represents a critical local denial of service flaw within the DaDa accelerator software version 5.6.19.816. This issue manifests as a system crash resulting in a blue screen of death (BSOD) when exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability exists within the kernel-mode drivers of the DaDa accelerator, which are responsible for managing system resources and providing low-level hardware access. Attackers can construct specific programs that trigger memory corruption or improper resource handling within these kernel components, leading to system instability and complete crash conditions. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with a kernel-level buffer overflow or memory management error that allows privilege escalation from user mode to kernel mode execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires local system access and leverages the inherent trust placed in the DaDa accelerator drivers by the operating system. When malicious code executes against the vulnerable kernel components, it can corrupt critical system data structures or overwrite memory locations that control system execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific implementation may involve heap-based or other memory corruption mechanisms. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input or execution sequences that cause the driver to process invalid data structures, leading to memory corruption that triggers a system halt. The BSOD occurs because the operating system kernel detects critical integrity violations and initiates an immediate system shutdown to prevent further corruption or potential exploitation for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of the entire computing environment. Organizations relying on DaDa accelerator software for performance optimization or specific system functions face significant risk from local attackers who can cause unexpected system outages. The vulnerability's local nature means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or shared computing resources. The crash conditions can result in data loss, service interruption, and potential compromise of sensitive system information if attackers utilize the instability to conduct further exploitation attempts. This vulnerability directly impacts system availability and reliability, which can be particularly problematic in mission-critical applications or environments where continuous system operation is essential.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-23736 should focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address the kernel-level memory corruption issues within the DaDa accelerator drivers. System administrators should implement strict access controls and privilege management to limit local user access to systems running vulnerable software. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual crash patterns or kernel-level anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of kernel patch protection mechanisms and driver signature enforcement can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to prevent unauthorized local access to systems running vulnerable software. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and system compromise through kernel-level attacks, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within the broader software ecosystem.