CVE-2022-42455
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in ASUS EC Tool driver allows local users to gain elevated privileges by exploiting unprivileged IOCTL calls that provide raw read/write access to port I/O and MSRs. It affects systems running ASUS software products that include this vulnerable driver. Attackers can escalate privileges from a standard user account to SYSTEM or kernel-level access.
💻 Affected Systems
- ASUS EC Tool driver (d.sys) as included in various ASUS software products
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with kernel-level code execution, enabling persistence, data theft, and disabling of security controls.
Likely Case
Privilege escalation from a standard user to SYSTEM, allowing installation of malware, credential dumping, and lateral movement.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper access controls and least privilege principles are enforced, though local exploitation remains possible.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local user access but is straightforward due to publicly available proof-of-concept code.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not specified in references; check ASUS advisories for updated driver versions.
Vendor Advisory: https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1049141/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Visit ASUS support website for your device model. 2. Download and install the latest driver updates. 3. Restart the system to apply changes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable or remove vulnerable driver
windowsUninstall ASUS software containing the vulnerable driver or disable the driver via system configuration.
sc stop ASUSEC
sc delete ASUSEC
Restrict driver access via Group Policy
windowsUse Group Policy to block execution of the vulnerable driver or restrict user permissions.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Enforce least privilege: Limit local user accounts to standard privileges to reduce attack surface.
- Monitor for suspicious activity: Use endpoint detection to alert on privilege escalation attempts or driver manipulation.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check for the presence of d.sys driver in system directories and verify its hash matches the vulnerable version: 1beb15c90dcf7a5234ed077833a0a3e900969b60be1d04fcebce0a9f8994bdbb.Check Version:
Get-FileHash C:\Windows\System32\drivers\d.sys (PowerShell) or certutil -hashfile C:\Windows\System32\drivers\d.sys SHA256 (Command Prompt)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify the driver version has been updated or removed; check ASUS software for patches and confirm no vulnerable hash matches.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Event logs showing driver loading/unloading anomalies
- Security logs with privilege escalation events
Network Indicators:
- None, as this is a local exploit
SIEM Query:
Example: EventID=4697 OR EventID=4672 with process name containing 'd.sys' or ASUSEC