CVE-2024-20072 in MT6890
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2024
In wlan driver, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: WCNCR00364732; Issue ID: MSV-1332.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2024
This vulnerability exists within the wireless local area network driver component of a Windows operating system, specifically affecting the wlan.sys kernel driver module. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when the driver fails to properly validate input parameters received from user-mode applications. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow issue that stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms within the driver's input processing routines. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-787 category of out-of-bounds write conditions, which represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the driver's handling of malformed or oversized input data structures that are passed to kernel memory regions. When user applications submit specially crafted parameters to the wireless driver interface, the validation logic fails to properly check array boundaries or memory allocation limits before writing data. This allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations within the driver's memory space, potentially corrupting critical kernel data structures or executable code. The vulnerability requires system-level execution privileges to exploit, indicating that it can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks that elevate a standard user account to kernel-level privileges, effectively providing complete system control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system instability and complete compromise. Attackers can exploit this condition without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically through malicious applications or scripts. The vulnerability's presence in the wlan driver component means that exploitation can occur through wireless network operations or even when simply connecting to wireless networks. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local privileges, and T1547.001 which covers registry run keys for persistence. The patch WCNCR00364732 specifically addresses the input validation flaw by implementing proper bounds checking and memory boundary verification within the driver's data processing functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of the Microsoft security update WCNCR00364732, which provides the necessary code modifications to prevent the out-of-bounds write condition. System administrators should also implement additional protective measures such as disabling unnecessary wireless network functionality when not required, applying the principle of least privilege for wireless driver access, and monitoring for suspicious kernel memory access patterns. Network segmentation and endpoint detection systems should be configured to alert on unusual driver behavior or memory corruption events that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in kernel-mode drivers and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level components. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent buffer overflow conditions before they can be exploited for privilege escalation attacks.