CVE-2026-13585 in System Control Interface
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2026
Allocation of Resources Without Limits and Throttling and Sensitive Information in Resource Not Removed Before Reuse in the ASUS System Control Interface driver and ASUS Business Manager allow a local administrator to disclose sensitive information via crafted IOCTL requests, which, in severe cases, may lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) on the system. Refer to the ' Security Update for ASUS System Control Interface ' section on the ASUS Security Advisory for more information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical resource management flaw within the ASUS System Control Interface driver and ASUS Business Manager components, where inadequate bounds checking and insufficient resource throttling mechanisms create exploitable conditions for sensitive data disclosure. This issue stems from improper handling of input validation during IOCTL (Input/Output Control) request processing, allowing a local administrator with elevated privileges to craft malicious requests that bypass normal resource allocation limits. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within Windows driver architecture, specifically targeting the system control interface that manages hardware abstraction and system configuration parameters.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the failure to properly enforce resource limits when processing IOCTL commands through the ASUS System Control Interface driver. When a local administrator submits crafted IOCTL requests, the driver allocates memory resources without adequate bounds checking or throttling mechanisms to prevent excessive consumption. This allows for the exploitation of memory layout vulnerabilities where sensitive information stored in previously allocated memory regions can be accessed and disclosed through subsequent IOCTL operations. The vulnerability manifests as information disclosure rather than direct code execution, but the implications extend to potential system instability and denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where ASUS System Control Interface drivers are deployed across multiple systems. The local administrator privilege requirement reduces the attack surface compared to remote exploits, but it still represents a critical security gap since privileged users often have broad system access and can leverage such vulnerabilities for further compromise. The potential for denial of service scenarios creates operational disruption risks, particularly in mission-critical environments where system availability is paramount. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-772, which addresses the allocation of resources without limits or throttling, and demonstrates how insufficient resource management can lead to information exposure and system instability.
The attack vector involves a local administrator submitting specially crafted IOCTL requests that trigger the driver's inadequate resource handling behavior, potentially exposing sensitive system data including but not limited to memory contents, configuration parameters, or other confidential information. The exploitation process typically requires administrative privileges on the target system, making it less accessible to casual attackers but still concerning for organizations with privileged user accounts that may be compromised. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.003 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) where the initial access through legitimate administrative privileges enables the exploitation of this resource management flaw.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the driver code, enforcing strict resource throttling limits, and ensuring that sensitive information is properly cleared or invalidated before memory resources are reused. System administrators should apply the official ASUS security updates as referenced in their security advisory to address the vulnerability at its source. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unusual IOCTL request patterns and consider restricting administrative privileges where possible, particularly on systems running ASUS System Control Interface components. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices can help limit the potential impact if an attacker compromises a privileged account, though the fundamental driver-level vulnerability requires patching for complete remediation.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper resource management in kernel-mode drivers and demonstrate how seemingly simple implementation flaws can create significant security risks. This issue underscores the necessity for comprehensive security testing of driver components, particularly those that handle privileged system interfaces. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their installed driver components and maintain up-to-date security patches to protect against similar vulnerabilities in other vendor software components. The vulnerability also emphasizes the need for robust input validation and resource management practices throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly in systems that require elevated privileges or direct hardware access through kernel-mode interfaces.