CVE-2024-23440 in Vba32 Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE • 02/13/2024
Vba32 Antivirus v3.36.0 is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Memory Read vulnerability. The 0x22200B IOCTL code of the Vba32m64.sys driver allows to read up to 0x802 of memory from ar arbitrary user-supplied pointer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23440 affects Vba32 Antivirus version 3.36.0 and represents a critical arbitrary memory read flaw within the kernel-mode driver component. This issue resides in the Vba32m64.sys driver which exposes a dangerous IOCTL interface with code 0x22200B. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and parameter checking within the driver's implementation, allowing attackers to craft malicious IOCTL requests that can read arbitrary memory locations from the system. The flaw specifically permits reading up to 0x802 bytes of memory data from any user-supplied pointer, effectively bypassing normal memory protection mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where a program reads memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries, and represents a significant escalation from standard user-mode privilege levels to kernel-mode access. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it enables adversaries to extract sensitive information from kernel memory, potentially including encryption keys, credential data, or other confidential system information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform advanced memory reconnaissance and potentially escalate privileges to kernel-level execution. When combined with other exploitation techniques, this arbitrary memory read can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation, information gathering for further exploitation, or even direct system compromise. The vulnerability exists in the driver's handling of IOCTL code 0x22200B, which lacks proper validation of user-supplied pointers and buffer sizes, allowing malicious actors to specify arbitrary memory addresses for reading operations. This flaw creates an attack vector that operates at the kernel level, bypassing standard operating system security controls and potentially enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it can be exploited by unprivileged users, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where attackers may attempt to leverage this weakness for privilege escalation or information theft.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-23440 should prioritize immediate patching of the Vba32 Antivirus software to the latest version that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity related to the affected driver and establish baseline memory access patterns to detect anomalous behavior. The recommended approach includes disabling or removing the vulnerable driver component until a patched version is deployed, as well as implementing kernel-mode protection mechanisms such as Driver Signature Enforcement and Windows Kernel Mode Code Signing policies. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime application control measures and monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through memory read operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation through kernel exploits and credential access through information gathering, making it particularly dangerous for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access or extract sensitive data from compromised systems. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all antivirus and security software components to identify similar kernel-mode flaws that may present analogous security risks.