CVE-2024-12661 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 rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function 0x8001E024 in the library AscRegistryFilter.sys of the component IOCTL Handler. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. The attack needs 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 • 07/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-12661 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 driver component, specifically within the IOCTL handler function 0x8001E024 which processes system registry operations. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes certain registry-related IOCTL commands, creating a scenario where a null pointer reference occurs during execution. This type of flaw falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions that can lead to system instability and potential privilege escalation. The vulnerability's classification as problematic by security analysts indicates its potential for serious operational impact given the nature of kernel-level components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires local system access, meaning an attacker must already have user-level privileges on the target system. This local requirement reduces the attack surface compared to remote exploits but does not eliminate the threat entirely since local access can be achieved through various means including social engineering, phishing attacks, or compromised user accounts. The null pointer dereference occurs when the IOCTL handler function attempts to access memory through a pointer that has not been properly initialized or validated, leading to a system crash or potentially allowing for privilege escalation. The fact that this exploit has been publicly disclosed and is considered usable by threat actors significantly increases the risk profile of systems running affected versions of the software.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to enterprise environments where IObit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate is deployed. The kernel-level nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This capability would enable attackers to bypass standard security controls, install backdoors, modify system files, or extract sensitive information from the compromised system. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure reports is particularly concerning as it suggests either limited resources for patch development or potential delays in addressing the vulnerability. This delay in vendor response creates an extended window of exposure for organizations that have not yet patched their systems. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by the fact that registry filtering operations are frequently used by system management tools and security applications, making the attack vector more prevalent in normal system operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of IObit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate where available, disabling the vulnerable registry filtering component if not essential for operations, and monitoring system logs for unusual registry access patterns. Network segmentation and user access controls should be reinforced to limit potential local access points, while endpoint detection and response solutions should be configured to monitor for signs of kernel-level exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights the risks associated with legacy software components that may not receive ongoing vendor support. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for kernel-level activity and ensure proper incident response procedures are in place to address potential exploitation attempts. Given the publicly disclosed nature of the exploit and the lack of vendor response, proactive remediation measures are essential to protect against potential compromise of affected systems.