CVE-2018-3971 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Sophos HitmanPro.Alert 3.7.6.744 has a critical vulnerability in its IOCTL handler feature that allows arbitrary write actions, leading to memory corruption when exploited.

Understanding CVE-2018-3971

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Sophos HitmanPro.Alert 3.7.6.744 that can be exploited for arbitrary write actions, potentially leading to memory corruption.

What is CVE-2018-3971?

The vulnerability lies in the 0x2222CC IOCTL handler feature of Sophos HitmanPro.Alert 3.7.6.744
An attacker can manipulate the driver to write data to a specific address, causing memory corruption
Exploitation involves sending a specially crafted IRP request

The Impact of CVE-2018-3971

CVSS Base Score: 9.3 (Critical)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High
Scope: Changed
User Interaction: None

Technical Details of CVE-2018-3971

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to perform arbitrary write actions in the driver
It results in memory corruption due to writing data to a specific address

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Sophos HitmanPro.Alert
Vendor: Talos
Version: 3.7.6.744 on Windows 7 x86

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted IRP request

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-3971 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates promptly
Monitor vendor sources for security advisories
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems
Conduct security training for employees to recognize and report suspicious activities
Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential damage

Patching and Updates

Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest patches from the vendor
Regularly check for security updates and apply them promptly