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Microsoft has discovered five vulnerabilities in the Paragon Partition Manager BioNTdrv.sys driver, one of which was exploited by ransomware gangs in zero-day attacks to gain SYSTEM privileges on Windows systems. This type of attack is known as Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD), where attackers use vulnerable third-party drivers to escalate privileges.
Read more: Ransomware gangs exploit Paragon Partition Manager bug in BYOVD attacks
You Should Know:
Here are some practical commands and techniques to help mitigate such vulnerabilities and secure your systems:
1. Check Loaded Drivers on Windows:
Use the following command to list all loaded drivers and identify potentially malicious ones:
driverquery /v
2. Disable Vulnerable Drivers:
To disable a specific driver, use the `sc` command:
sc stop <drivername> sc delete <drivername>
3. Enable Driver Signature Enforcement:
Ensure that only signed drivers are allowed to load by enabling Driver Signature Enforcement:
bcdedit /set nointegritychecks off bcdedit /set testsigning off
4. Monitor Driver Loads with Sysmon:
Use Sysinternals Sysmon to monitor driver loads and detect suspicious activity:
sysmon -accepteula -i sysmonconfig.xml
(Ensure you have a proper Sysmon configuration file to track driver loads.)
5. Linux Alternative: Check Loaded Kernel Modules:
On Linux, you can list loaded kernel modules to identify suspicious ones:
lsmod
To remove a module:
sudo rmmod <module_name>
6. Patch Management:
Regularly update your system and drivers to mitigate known vulnerabilities:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y # For Linux
On Windows, use:
wuauclt /detectnow /updatenow
7. Audit System Logs:
Check Windows Event Viewer for signs of driver-related exploits:
eventvwr.msc
On Linux, review kernel logs:
sudo dmesg | grep -i error
What Undercode Say:
The exploitation of vulnerable drivers like Paragon Partition Manager highlights the importance of securing third-party software and drivers. Regularly audit and update your systems, enforce driver signature policies, and monitor for suspicious activity. Use tools like Sysmon and Event Viewer to detect and respond to threats proactively.
For further reading on securing Windows systems, visit:
Stay vigilant and ensure your systems are patched against known vulnerabilities to prevent ransomware and privilege escalation attacks.
References:
Reported By: Blackwired Ransomware – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
