CVE-2020-9756 in Viper RGB Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Patriot Viper RGB Driver 1.1 and prior exposes IOCTL and allows insufficient access control. The IOCTL Codes 0x80102050 and 0x80102054 allows a local user with low privileges to read/write 1/2/4 bytes from or to an IO port. This could be leveraged in a number of ways to ultimately run code with elevated privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2024
The CVE-2020-9756 vulnerability affects the Patriot Viper RGB Driver version 1.1 and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw within device driver software. This vulnerability stems from improper implementation of input/output control operations that expose kernel-level functionality to unprivileged local users. The driver exposes two specific IOCTL codes 0x80102050 and 0x80102054 which provide direct access to hardware I/O ports through kernel-mode operations. These codes allow attackers to perform read and write operations of 1, 2, or 4 bytes to arbitrary I/O ports, creating a dangerous privilege escalation vector. The vulnerability exists because the driver fails to properly validate access permissions for these IOCTL operations, enabling any local user to invoke these functions regardless of their privilege level. This represents a classic example of insufficient access control as defined by CWE-284, where improper access control mechanisms allow unauthorized users to perform operations that should be restricted to privileged processes or users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a serious flaw in kernel-mode driver security implementation. When a local user invokes the exposed IOCTL codes, the driver executes without proper privilege checks, allowing direct hardware manipulation through I/O port operations. This capability enables attackers to read sensitive system memory locations, modify hardware registers, or manipulate device states that should be protected from user-space access. The ability to read/write specific byte quantities from I/O ports creates opportunities for memory corruption, hardware manipulation, and potentially arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this to escalate privileges from standard user to system-level access, effectively bypassing operating system security boundaries. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides direct hardware manipulation capabilities that can be used to compromise system integrity, manipulate device behavior, or access protected data. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and specifically addresses local privilege escalation through kernel-mode vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-9756 is severe and affects any system running the vulnerable Patriot Viper RGB driver version. Local users can exploit this vulnerability without requiring network access or special tools, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions such as reading kernel memory, modifying device driver state, or manipulating hardware components that could lead to system instability or complete compromise. System administrators face challenges in detecting this vulnerability since it operates at the kernel level and may not generate obvious error messages or logs. The exposure of I/O port access through IOCTL operations creates multiple attack vectors for privilege escalation, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent backdoors or escalate to SYSTEM level privileges. Organizations using this driver are vulnerable to both casual exploitation by local users and targeted attacks by sophisticated adversaries. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise security since it can be exploited by anyone with local access to the system, including potentially malicious insiders or compromised user accounts. Remediation requires driver updates or complete removal of the vulnerable software, as the flaw exists in the fundamental design of how the driver handles IOCTL requests and access control validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-9756 should focus on immediate driver updates from the vendor, which would address the insufficient access control implementation. System administrators should implement strict driver signing policies and disable unsigned driver loading to prevent installation of vulnerable versions. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious IOCTL usage patterns and implementing runtime protection mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel-mode security practices and access control validation, particularly for device drivers that require direct hardware access. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all installed drivers and ensure proper privilege separation between user-space applications and kernel-mode operations. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the system. The incident underscores the need for robust driver security frameworks and adherence to security best practices such as those outlined in the Windows Driver Framework security guidelines and Microsoft's driver security requirements.