CVE-2018-20331 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Antiy AVL ATool v1.0.0.22 is susceptible to a Kernel Pool Buffer Overflow, allowing nearby attackers to execute arbitrary code within the kernel's context.

Understanding CVE-2018-20331

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Antiy AVL ATool v1.0.0.22 that can be exploited by attackers to achieve privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2018-20331?

The vulnerability allows attackers to trigger a Kernel Pool Buffer Overflow in Antiy AVL ATool v1.0.0.22 by exploiting a flaw in the handling of IOCTL 0x80002004 within the ssdt.sys kernel driver.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20331

Attackers can execute arbitrary code within the kernel's context, potentially leading to privilege escalation.
A failed exploit could result in a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20331

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

An exploitable condition in Antiy AVL ATool v1.0.0.22 allows nearby attackers to initiate a Kernel Pool Buffer Overflow.
The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied data length.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Antiy AVL ATool v1.0.0.22
Vendor: N/A
Version: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers must first acquire the ability to execute low-privileged code on the targeted system.
The specific flaw lies in the handling of IOCTL 0x80002004 within the ssdt.sys kernel driver.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20331 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches or updates provided by the vendor.
Monitor and restrict low-privileged code execution on systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong validation mechanisms for user-supplied data.
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to Antiy AVL ATool.
Regularly update and patch the affected systems to mitigate the vulnerability.