CVE-2021-27965 in Dragon Center
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2021
The MsIo64.sys driver before 1.1.19.1016 in MSI Dragon Center before 2.0.98.0 has a buffer overflow that allows privilege escalation via a crafted 0x80102040, 0x80102044, 0x80102050, or 0x80102054 IOCTL request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-27965 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the MsIo64.sys kernel driver component of MSI Dragon Center software versions prior to 2.0.98.0. This driver operates at kernel level with elevated privileges, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks that could compromise entire system integrity. The vulnerability manifests through specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests with codes 0x80102040, 0x80102044, 0x80102050, and 0x80102054, which are typically used for device control operations in Windows kernel mode drivers.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the MsIo64.sys driver processes these specific IOCTL requests without proper bounds checking on user-supplied data. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability falls under the category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient validation allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The driver fails to validate input parameters before copying them into fixed-size buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and represents a severe deviation from secure coding practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable adversaries to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, disable security features, and gain access to sensitive data. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the vulnerable driver is part of the MSI Dragon Center suite, which is commonly installed on gaming and high-performance computing systems where users may have elevated privileges or administrative access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1543 (Create or Modify System Process) techniques, with potential for lateral movement through system-wide access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected MSI Dragon Center software to version 2.0.98.0 or later, which includes the necessary driver updates that address the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement, application whitelisting, and monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-mode driver security and proper input validation, as highlighted in the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle guidelines. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable drivers or components that may exhibit similar security flaws, particularly those operating with elevated privileges and handling user-controlled input through kernel interfaces.