CVE-2019-7246 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was found in the atillk64.sys driver, part of the AMD ATI Diagnostics Hardware Abstraction Sys/Overclocking Utility version 5.11.9.0, allowing unauthorized writes to the Model Specific Register (MSR) and potential privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2019-7246

This CVE involves a flaw in the atillk64.sys driver, potentially leading to the execution of code with Ring-0 privileges.

What is CVE-2019-7246?

The vulnerability in the atillk64.sys driver exposes a wrmsr instruction without properly filtering the MSR, enabling unauthorized writes to the MSR and potential privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2019-7246

Exploiting this vulnerability could result in the execution of code with Ring-0 privileges and the escalation of privileges on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-7246

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The atillk64.sys driver in AMD ATI Diagnostics Hardware Abstraction Sys/Overclocking Utility 5.11.9.0 exposes a wrmsr instruction without adequate MSR filtering, allowing unauthorized writes to the MSR.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: AMD ATI Diagnostics Hardware Abstraction Sys/Overclocking Utility
Version: 5.11.9.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized writes to the MSR, potentially leading to the execution of code with Ring-0 privileges and privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-7246, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or remove the affected AMD ATI Diagnostics Hardware Abstraction Sys/Overclocking Utility version 5.11.9.0.
Monitor vendor updates for patches and security advisories.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and drivers on the system.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential privilege escalation.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by AMD to fix the vulnerability in the atillk64.sys driver.