CVE-2024-12657 in Advanced SystemCare Utimate
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2024
A vulnerability has been found in IObit Advanced SystemCare Utimate up to 17.0.0 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function 0x8001E000 in the library AscRegistryFilter.sys of the component IOCTL Handler. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-12657 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within IObit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate version 17.0.0 and earlier. This issue resides in the AscRegistryFilter.sys kernel-mode driver component, specifically within the IOCTL handler function 0x8001E000. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes certain registry operations through the affected driver, creating a condition where a null pointer is dereferenced during execution. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to system instability and potential exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it exists within kernel-mode code, which operates with the highest privilege levels on the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires local system access, meaning an attacker must already have user-level privileges on the target system to attempt exploitation. This limitation reduces the attack surface compared to remote exploits but does not eliminate the threat entirely, as local privilege escalation attacks can still occur through various vectors. The null pointer dereference creates a scenario where the driver's IOCTL handler fails to properly validate input parameters before attempting to access memory locations. When the function encounters a null pointer that it attempts to dereference, the system typically crashes with a kernel-mode exception or blue screen of death, potentially leading to denial of service conditions. The fact that this exploit has been publicly disclosed and is available for use significantly increases the risk to systems running vulnerable versions of the software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code within the kernel context. Kernel-mode vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can bypass standard operating system security mechanisms and provide attackers with complete control over the affected system. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates that it has been recognized as a legitimate security concern by the vendor, though the lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts suggests a potential gap in the vendor's security response process. This vulnerability could be leveraged in conjunction with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack chains, particularly in environments where attackers have already established a foothold through other means. The presence of this flaw in a system optimization tool like Advanced SystemCare Ultimate is especially concerning, as such software is often installed with elevated privileges and has extensive system access capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-12657 should prioritize immediate software updates from IObit, as the vendor has not yet released a patch or fix for this vulnerability. System administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel-mode exploit protection, driver signature enforcement, and monitoring for unusual registry access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' and T1547.001 which covers 'Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder' as attackers might attempt to leverage such vulnerabilities to establish persistence. Organizations should also consider implementing process monitoring to detect suspicious activities related to the AscRegistryFilter.sys driver and ensure that all systems running Advanced SystemCare Ultimate are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Given the lack of vendor response, organizations may need to explore alternative security solutions or consider temporarily disabling the affected software until a proper fix is available. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining updated security software and the risks associated with relying on third-party tools that may contain unpatched kernel-mode vulnerabilities.