CVE-2023-1007 in Twister
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2023
A vulnerability was found in Twister Antivirus 8.17. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code in the library filmfd.sys of the component IoControlCode Handler. The manipulation leads to improper access controls. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-221740.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2026
This critical vulnerability in Twister Antivirus 8.17 represents a significant security flaw within the software's kernel-mode driver component, specifically affecting the filmfd.sys library module. The issue manifests through improper access controls within the IoControlCode Handler functionality, which serves as a crucial interface for device control operations in the Windows kernel. This vulnerability exists at the core of the antivirus protection mechanism, where the driver handles input/output control codes that typically require elevated privileges and proper authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access. The flaw allows malicious actors to bypass normal security boundaries and gain unintended access to system resources through a local attack vector that requires physical presence or administrative access to the target machine.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the IoControlCode Handler within the filmfd.sys driver, which is designed to process control codes sent from user-mode applications to kernel-mode drivers. When properly configured, these handlers should enforce strict access controls and validate all incoming parameters before executing any privileged operations. However, in this case, the validation mechanisms have been compromised, allowing attackers to submit specially crafted control codes that can trigger unauthorized access to protected system resources. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its potential to enable privilege escalation attacks, where an attacker could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing all standard security protections implemented by the antivirus software itself.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the antivirus protection system. When an attacker successfully exploits this flaw, they can potentially disable or modify security features within Twister Antivirus, render the software ineffective against malware threats, and gain access to sensitive system information that would normally be protected by the security layer. The public disclosure of this exploit means that threat actors can readily develop and deploy attack tools without requiring advanced reverse engineering skills, significantly increasing the risk exposure for systems running affected versions. This represents a particularly dangerous scenario where the security tool designed to protect against malware becomes a vector for more sophisticated attacks, creating a paradoxical situation where the antivirus solution itself becomes a target.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by the vendor, as well as implementing additional protective measures such as kernel-mode driver signature enforcement and system integrity protection mechanisms. Organizations should consider disabling unnecessary driver functionality and implementing strict access controls for system-level operations that could be exploited through similar mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, while the attack vector and exploitation techniques correspond to ATT&CK tactics such as privilege escalation and defense evasion. Security teams should also consider monitoring for suspicious driver activity and implementing behavioral analysis tools that can detect anomalous patterns consistent with this type of kernel-mode exploit, particularly focusing on unauthorized access attempts to protected system resources through device control interfaces.