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Vulnerable Windows Drivers Could Allow Device Takeover

In several earlier articles, we have mentioned that drivers are a critical component in any operating system. In Windows kernel-level device drivers are loaded to ensure hardware devices can communicate with the operating system. This high level of access by device drivers is secured by a number of safeguards.

Device drivers need to be digitally signed before they are allowed to be installed (even though this can be disabled on some Windows versions). Drivers can also be tested by Microsoft to get the WHQL certification (Windows Hardware Quality Lab). An advantage of WHQL drivers is that they are available through the Windows Update service.

Since the Windows 11 update in 2022, the Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) security feature prevents vulnerable drivers from being installed. It is important to realize that this is based on a list of known vulnerable Windows drivers. So, anything unknown will not be on the list and still get installed.

Recent Analysis Showed 34 Vulnerable Drivers

It is good to know that there are always people looking for vulnerabilities to help prevent abuse of these vulnerabilities. VMWare recently also released their findings on an automated approach to finding vulnerable Windows drivers using a reverse engineering approach. Details are in their blog post, but the results are quite daunting.

Finding that 34 Windows drivers have vulnerabilities is quite a large number. Most (30) are based on the Windows Driver Model (WDM), while some (4) are using the Windows Driver Framework (WDF). Since some of these drivers include firmware access, one can imagine the kind of access and system takeover that can happen with the exploits of these vulnerabilities.

Solutions to Fix Vulnerable Windows Drivers

Since most of these problems need to be fixed by correcting the flaws, or shortcomings, in the device driver software, vendors must update their drivers and release new versions.

This has happened in 2 of the mentioned cases (Phoenix Technologies fixed the TdkLib64.sys driver and AMD fixed the PDFWKRNL.sys driver).

But there are also suggestions that Microsoft could make changes in how drivers are checked and loaded. The vulnerability list (HVCI) does not seem to be sufficient. It is suggested that preventing signed drivers with a revoked certificate would already block a third of the 34 drivers.

From a user perspective, it is important to keep your drivers up-to-date. Apart from using Windows Update, we recommend you use a program like DriverFinder to check for updates regularly.

New Release: DriverFinder 2.1.0!

DeskToolsSoft proudly announces the release of DriverFinder version 2.1.0, which is now available in five different languages: English, German, Dutch, French and Spanish

San Francisco, CA – July 25, 2011 – DeskToolsSoft, a cutting-edge desktop software firm, has announced that their flagship software – DriverFinder – is now available in four additional languages: German, Dutch, French and Spanish.

Now, when users install DriverFinder, they will be prompted if they want to use the application in English, German, Dutch, French or Spanish. The change is in response to the product’s growing number of clients in various markets across the globe.

According to company representative Melanie Tan, “DeskToolsSoft is committed to servicing its clients the best way it can. This means not only ensuring that we have a strong product in the market, but also catering to our global clientele’s multi-lingual needs. We are proud to make DriverFinder available in these five major languages and rest assured, there will be more of such enhancements in the near future.”

DriverFinder is available for immediate download at its official website: http://www.driverfinderpro.com

About DeskToolsSoft, Inc.

Although launched officially in 2009, DeskToolsSoft is backed by almost 20 years of experience in the IT industry. The company was established with one aim: to provide desktop utilities that do exactly what ‘it says on the box’; namely, to optimize computers on various, specific levels so that users get the most performance out of their machines.

The DeskToolsSoft goal is not only to produce software to help clients with system maintenance but to produce software that UPLIFTS their computing experience. DeskToolsSoft achieves this by utilizing only the best processes and technology in the IT industry, and presenting them in a highly user-friendly interface for clients.

Media Contact:

Diana McCord
DeskToolsSoft, Inc.
Email: media (at) desktoolssoft (dot) com
Phone: 310.893.0701
http://www.desktoolssoft.com

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Motorola Drivers

Motorola, Inc. is a U.S. based multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. Though best known for an extensive line of Motorola cell phones, the company also specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of wireless telephone headsets, as well as wireless network infrastructure hardware that includes signal amplifiers and cellular transmission base stations.

Motorola network products include digital video recorders, set-top boxes and a wide range of equipment used to enable computer telephony, video broadcasting and HD television. The company also has solutions designed for business and government customers with broadband and wireless voice systems used to power secure public communications systems and private networks.

Motorola was founded in 1928 as the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. The Motorola title was adopted in the 1930s when founders Paul and Joseph Galvin introduced what would become the first commercially successful car radio. For more than 70 years, it has been at the forefront of technology, introducing the world to numerous cutting edge innovations. From the 1950s through the 1970s, the company specialized in radio equipment and televisions, actually playing a huge role in the historic moon landing in 1969. It enjoyed major strides in the 1980s, making history by launching the world’s first commercial cellular device. It was also a force in the semiconductor industry around the time, developing integrated circuits that were used in computer systems such as the Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and Apple Macintosh. Motorola is known as the producer of the first pager and wireless gateway modem and has also been a pioneer in the development of mobile GPS technology.

Today, Motorola creates a broad range of products designed for corporations, public safety and government officials and the general public. Utilizing the best design practices and leveraging the latest in wireless technology, it’s hard to picture a telecommunications field without the Motorola brand.

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Intel Drivers

Business profile of Intel Corporation.

Founded in 1968, Intel Corporation is the largest semiconductor company in the world. Based in Santa Clara, California, the company is also the inventor of the popular x86 line of processors, which are the microprocessors found in most of today’s personal computers. The company’s product line encompasses a range of solutions that help power the home and IT sectors. Intel manufactures and sells embedded processors, motherboard chipsets, integrated circuits, graphic chips and other hardware related to the computing and communications markets. Intel chips are widely known for having an advanced design and industry leading capabilities.

Intel was originally established as Integrated Electronics Corporation by Gordon Moore and Robert Novice, two pioneers in the semiconductor industry. However, Andrew Grove receives much of the credit for the company’s success through executive leadership and vision. The company started out as one of the first developers of DRAM and SRAM memory chips, which was its main focus in the early 1980s. While Intel introduced the world to the first commercial microprocessor chip in the early 1970s, it wasn’t until the emergence of the PC that it became the company’s primary business. In the 1990s, Intel made a commitment to focus on new processor designs to cater to the fast growing PC market. Around this time, Intel processors became synonymous with the personal computer, thanks to the aggressive “Intel Inside” marketing campaign that essentially made it a household name.

Although the 2000s marked the end of the company’s dominance, Intel processors remain prevalent on today’s PC market. In fact, it was ranked in 2007 as one of the world’s most powerful brands by Millward Brown Optimor. Intel celebrated its 40th birthday in 2008 and has recently announced plans to launch more innovative PC products in the very new future. From the looks of it, Intel will continue to play an integral role in modern computing.

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InnoVISION Drivers

Business Profile of Innovision Multimedia Limited.

InnoVISION Multimedia Limited is a company that specializes in the development and production of a wide range of multimedia and PC hardware products. Though its manufacturing operations were originally set up in 1990 in Shenzhen, China, its product line did not blossom until 1998 in Hong Kong. In what can be considered a very short time, the company has become a major force in a fiercely competitive market, delivering cutting edge products while contracting out its state of the art research and production facilities to industry partners. InnoVISION’s commitment to excellence has garnered the company worldwide recognition and the title as one of Asia’s fastest growing companies.

Since the very beginning, InnoVISION has made it a priority to invest in the best design practices and deliver the ultimate experience to the fast growing market of multimedia professionals and PC enthusiasts. Its product portfolio is comprised of the highly successful Inno3D brand. This includes a diverse selection of graphic board accelerators and advanced peripherals. InnoVISION is also behind InnoDV, a line of digital video/TV capturing and editing solutions, as well as InnoAX, a series of high-end sound cards. ISO9001:2000 certification gives customers the assurance of world-class products designed in state of the art facilities by highly qualified R&D teams.

The popularity of InnoVISION graphics cards has allowed the company to enjoy a nice share of the market over the years. Always striving for excellence, the company plans to constantly introduce innovative implementations for its new, existing and future product lines. Aside from cutting edge solutions, InnoVISION is dedicated to its advanced research methodologies and delivering excellent technical support to meet the needs of its loyal customers. With qualities such as these, it is no wonder that this company has become one of the most talked about on the PC hardware market.

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