CVE-2020-15481 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

PassMark BurnInTest, OSForensics, and PerformanceTest Kernel Driver Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2020-15481

An issue in PassMark BurnInTest v9.1 Build 1008, OSForensics v7.1 Build 1012, and PerformanceTest v10.0 Build 1008 allows low-privilege users to execute arbitrary Ring-0 code, leading to privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2020-15481?

The vulnerability in the kernel driver of the mentioned software versions enables users to map arbitrary physical memory into the process address space, potentially resulting in unauthorized code execution and privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15481

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to execute malicious code at the kernel level, compromising system integrity and gaining elevated privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15481

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The kernel driver exposes IOCTL functionality allowing unauthorized memory mapping.
Affected drivers: DirectIo32.sys and DirectIo64.sys.

Affected Systems and Versions

PassMark BurnInTest v9.1 Build 1008
OSForensics v7.1 Build 1012
PerformanceTest v10.0 Build 1008

Exploitation Mechanism

Low-privilege users can exploit IOCTL functionality to map physical memory into the process address space, leading to arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address the CVE-2020-15481 vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to fixed versions: BurnInTest v9.2, PerformanceTest v10.0 Build 1009, OSForensics v8.0.
Monitor system for any unauthorized activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and drivers to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.