A vulnerability was found in IObit Protected Folder up to version 13.6.0.5 and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function 0x8001E000/0x8001E004 in the library IUProcessFilter.sys of the component IOCTL Handler. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 6.8, which indicates a medium severity level. The availability impact is rated high, making this vulnerability significant for affected users. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Risk to organizations includes potential loss of availability and local exploitation. Although the exploit has been publicly disclosed, there is currently no known active exploitation reported.
Given the nature of this vulnerability, organizations using IObit Protected Folder should assess their exposure and implement necessary mitigations.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-404 (Improper Resource Shutdown or Release) and CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference). This highlights its technical nature and potential risks in system resource management. The vulnerability affects the IObit Protected Folder software, specifically within the IUProcessFilter.sys library.
The score of 6.8 is derived from the CVSS v4.0 metrics, indicating a local attack vector with low attack complexity and low privileges required for execution. The availability impact is high, suggesting that an attacker could significantly disrupt service.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of certain IOCTL calls within the IUProcessFilter.sys library. A flaw in resource management leads to a null pointer dereference, which could allow a local attacker to crash the application or potentially cause denial of service.
The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have physical or remote access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. The attack complexity is low, as it does not require specialized conditions or extensive user interaction. Privilege requirements are also low, allowing users with minimal access to exploit the vulnerability.
The impacts on confidentiality and integrity are rated as none, but availability is affected, which may lead to service disruption.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing IObit Protected Folder face a real-world risk due to this vulnerability. The potential for local exploitation emphasizes the need for physical security measures and controlled access to systems running this software.
The blast radius for this vulnerability could be significant, especially within environments where multiple systems utilize the same library. Organizations should carefully evaluate their patch management processes and ensure that they are prepared to address such vulnerabilities in a timely manner.
Given the CVSS score of 6.8, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects all versions of IObit Protected Folder prior to 13.6.0.6.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize upgrading IObit Protected Folder to version 13.6.0.6 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If upgrading immediately is not feasible, users should restrict access to the application to trusted personnel only.
In addition, implementing strict monitoring of application logs for suspicious activity can help identify potential exploit attempts. Continuous security testing, such as through continuous penetration testing can enhance security posture.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor for logs indicating unexpected crashes or error messages related to IUProcessFilter.sys. Behavioral anomalies in user interactions with the IObit Protected Folder application may also indicate exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The identification of this vulnerability reflects ongoing challenges in local privilege management and resource handling. Security teams should leverage insights from this incident to improve their overall vulnerability management strategies.
To stay ahead of emerging threats, organizations can benefit from developing a comprehensive vulnerability management program that emphasizes proactive identification and remediation.
For effective response strategies, organizations should also consider engaging in red teaming exercises to evaluate their security posture against potential exploitation scenarios.
Lastly, organizations should remain vigilant for trends in local exploits and ensure that they are prepared to adapt their defenses accordingly.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)