CVE-2024-12659 in Advanced SystemCare Utimate
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2024
A vulnerability was found in IObit Advanced SystemCare Utimate up to 17.0.0. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function 0x8001E004 in the library AscRegistryFilter.sys of the component IOCTL Handler. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. Attacking locally is a requirement. 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
This vulnerability resides within IObit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate version 17.0.0 and earlier, specifically targeting the AscRegistryFilter.sys kernel driver component. The flaw manifests in the IOCTL handler function 0x8001E004 which processes registry-related operations through the Advanced SystemCare filtering mechanism. The null pointer dereference occurs when the driver fails to properly validate input parameters during registry manipulation operations, creating a condition where a null pointer is accessed without proper bounds checking. This particular vulnerability represents a classic kernel-mode memory corruption flaw that can be exploited through local privilege escalation attacks, as the system must be running in a local context to trigger the vulnerable code path. The issue falls under the category of improper input validation and memory safety violations that are commonly classified under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the driver's input sanitization process where user-supplied parameters are not adequately validated before being processed by the kernel-level registry filtering functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability as it creates a potential pathway for local privilege escalation attacks. When an attacker successfully triggers the null pointer dereference through malicious IOCTL calls, the kernel driver crashes and can potentially be leveraged to escalate privileges to kernel mode execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage to execute malicious code. The fact that the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is potentially weaponized increases the risk profile significantly, as it removes the element of zero-day advantage that would normally protect such vulnerabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain elevated system privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise and persistent access. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts suggests either inadequate security response protocols or a lack of prioritization for this specific vulnerability within the product lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate operational controls and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution is to disable or uninstall the vulnerable Advanced SystemCare Ultimate software until a patched version is available, as the vulnerability requires local system access to exploit and cannot be remotely triggered. System administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity related to the AscRegistryFilter.sys driver and establish baseline behavior for normal registry operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel driver security hardening and proper input validation practices in system-level components, aligning with security best practices outlined in the CWE guidelines for preventing null pointer dereference conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel-mode exploit protection mechanisms such as kernel address space layout randomization and control flow integrity checks to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments of third-party system utilities and kernel drivers should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could compromise system integrity and overall security posture.