CVE-2023-52271 is a vulnerability found in the wsftprm.sys kernel driver version 2.0.0.0, which is part of the Topaz Antifraud software suite. This vulnerability allows low-privileged attackers to terminate any Protected Process Light (PPL) process on the affected system by exploiting an IOCTL interface. Protected Process Light is a Windows security feature designed to protect critical system and security processes from tampering or termination by unauthorized code. The ability to kill PPL processes effectively bypasses this protection, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt security mechanisms or other critical system functions. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges (PR:L), does not require user interaction (UI:N), and has a local attack vector (AV:L). The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and the scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact is primarily on availability (A:H), as attackers can terminate protected processes, but confidentiality and integrity are not directly impacted (C:N/I:N). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, categorized as medium severity. No public exploits are currently known, and no patches or vendor advisories have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on January 8, 2024, and the IOCTL name used for exploitation has not been disclosed. Since Topaz Antifraud is an anti-fraud solution, the ability to kill its protected processes could allow attackers to disable or circumvent anti-fraud protections, increasing the risk of fraud or malware persistence on affected systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to endpoint security, especially for those relying on Topaz Antifraud solutions to protect against fraud and malware. The ability to terminate PPL processes undermines the integrity of security controls, potentially allowing attackers to disable anti-fraud mechanisms, evade detection, and maintain persistence on critical systems. This could lead to increased fraud incidents, data breaches, or disruption of business operations. Organizations in finance, banking, e-commerce, and government sectors, where anti-fraud measures are critical, may face heightened exposure. Additionally, since exploitation requires local access, insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds could escalate their capabilities by leveraging this vulnerability. The disruption of protected processes could also impact system stability and availability, leading to operational downtime and associated financial losses. Given the medium severity and local attack vector, the threat is more pronounced in environments where endpoint security is paramount and where attackers can gain some level of access to user systems.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Monitor for updates and patches from the vendor or security community related to Topaz Antifraud and the wsftprm.sys driver, and apply them promptly once available. 2) Restrict local access rights to trusted users only, minimizing the number of accounts with the ability to execute local code or interact with kernel drivers. 3) Implement strict endpoint protection policies, including application whitelisting and behavior monitoring, to detect and prevent unauthorized IOCTL calls or attempts to terminate protected processes. 4) Employ advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying suspicious kernel driver interactions or process termination attempts targeting PPL processes. 5) Conduct regular audits of installed kernel drivers and their versions to identify vulnerable components. 6) Educate users and administrators about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of maintaining strict access controls. 7) Use system hardening techniques to reduce the attack surface, such as disabling unnecessary drivers or services related to the affected software if feasible. 8) In environments where Topaz Antifraud is critical, consider additional compensating controls such as network segmentation and enhanced monitoring to detect lateral movement or exploitation attempts.