CVE-2021-21788 : Security Advisory and Response

A privilege escalation vulnerability was discovered in IOBit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 14.2.0.220 driver, allowing local attackers to elevate privileges through malicious IOCTL requests.

Understanding CVE-2021-21788

This CVE involves a flaw in how the driver handles Privileged I/O write requests, potentially enabling unprivileged users to escalate their privileges locally.

What is CVE-2021-21788?

The vulnerability in IOBit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 14.2.0.220 driver permits unauthorized users to execute malicious I/O requests, leading to privilege escalation within the system.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21788

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 8.8. It can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system due to privilege escalation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21788

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and how the exploitation can occur.

Vulnerability Description

A flaw in the driver allows unprivileged users to send IOCTL requests, leading to unauthorized privileged I/O write operations, which can ultimately elevate their system privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

IOBit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 14.2.0.220 is specifically impacted by this vulnerability, where an attacker can exploit the driver's handling of I/O requests to gain escalated privileges.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending a crafted IRP (I/O Request Packet), a local attacker can trigger the vulnerability in the IOBit Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 14.2.0.220 driver, leveraging the IOCTL 0x9c40a0dc to achieve privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-21788, immediate actions and long-term security measures are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations and users should apply security patches promptly, monitor system activity for suspicious behavior, and restrict untrusted access to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing least privilege access, regular security assessments, and educating users about safe computing practices can enhance overall system security and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Vendor-supplied patches should be applied as soon as they are available to remediate the vulnerability and strengthen the security posture of the affected systems.