The Windows kernel serves as a critical bridge connecting your hardware and the operating system. With its robust default security measures, it’s challenging for malware to infiltrate your system. However, rising KASLR bypass threats are now taking advantage of vulnerabilities in Living Off the Land Drivers (LOLDrivers) and cache timing attacks to circumvent elevated access permissions. Although these attacks have historically targeted older systems, evidence suggests that they now threaten Windows 11 24H2, exposing critical kernel memory. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to effectively close these security loopholes.
Understanding KASLR Bypass Threats
The kernel of Windows meticulously regulates access to vital system resources, including memory and CPU usage. One of the key defensive measures employed is Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR), designed to obscure memory locations, thereby making it immensely difficult for kernel-level malware to gain access. However, recent advances have led to the utilization of a new driver, eneio64.sys, which successfully bypassed KASLR protections in Windows 11 24H2 as of June 2025.
This particular driver is categorized as a LOLDriver and can be compromised using what’s known as the “Low Stub” technique. Essentially, attackers leverage memory scanning and educated guesswork to pinpoint the base memory address of your system. Successful circumvention of the kernel opens doors to real-world exploitation, highlighting a critical threat level.
You can manually inspect the System32 folder for these drivers. If you don’t detect any problematic drivers, it indicates that they are either absent or have been properly removed.
Another notable exploit in May 2025 involved using cache timing methods to bypass KASLR entirely. Here, attackers measured access latency to potential kernel addresses within a “0xfff”range without needing to attain permissions such as SeDebugPrivilege. While this attack primarily focused on Windows 10 and earlier Windows 11 versions (21H2, 22H2, 23H2), it’s essential for users of Windows 11 to transition to 24H2 or later versions to shore up their defenses. For users encountering compatibility issues while upgrading to 24H2, we’ve compiled a list of effective solutions to facilitate a smooth transition.
Identifying LOLDrivers to Mitigate KASLR Bypass Risks
Post-2025, the kernel security enhancements within Windows 11 24H2 leveraged SeDebugPrivilege to offer greater protection. Nevertheless, malicious actors continue to exploit KASLR bypass techniques via LOLDrivers to infiltrate the latest Windows 11 iteration.
To check for problematic system drivers, launch PowerShell in elevated mode and execute the following command:
Get-WindowsDriver -Online | Where-Object { $_. OriginalFileName -match "sys"} | Format-Table OriginalFileName, ProviderName
After running this command, monitor the output for LOLDrivers. Examples of such drivers include MsIo64.sys, nt3.sys, and VBoxTap.sys. To enhance your vigilance, refer to a universal list of LOLDrivers.
Microsoft provides a comprehensive updated list of blocked or outdated drivers that includes LOLDrivers. You can download this list as an XML file and search specifically for problematic drivers like enio64.sys using:
Get-WindowsDriver -Online | Where-Object { $_. OriginalFileName -match "eneio64.sys"}
The outlined method ensures that your device is safeguarded against vulnerable LOLDrivers that may facilitate a KASLR bypass. A more user-friendly approach involves navigating to Windows Security -> Device security -> Core isolation details and confirming that Memory Integrity is activated.
KASLR bypass techniques resemble the behavior of Winos 4.0 malware. Both are highly persistent and deliver payloads through a complex chain of attacks.
Strengthening Windows Security by Enforcing SeDebugPrivilege
Cache timing side-channel attacks represent a significant risk associated with KASLR bypass techniques. When attackers exploit various methods to manipulate kernel memory directly, they can expose kernel addresses without requiring SeDebugPrivilege, a critical security measure enforced since the advent of Windows 11 24H2.
However, even users operating on Windows 10 and older versions of Windows 11 can still reinforce their systems by enforcing SeDebugPrivilege. Here’s a quick way to do that:
On a Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise device, press the Run command, enter secpol.msc, and this will bring up the Local Security Policy window. Navigate to Local policies -> User Rights Assignment, and double-click on Debug programs.
Click Check Names after adding new users and hit OK. Finally, select Apply and again click OK to finalize your changes.
If you use Windows 10/11 Home, you lack access to Local Security Policy. Instead, access Registry Editor by typing regedit. Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
If this key isn’t already present, create it. Right-click to establish a new REG_SZ value called SeDebugPrivilege, adjusting its value to Administrators. Remember to always back up your registry prior to making any changes.
To fight against kernel-oriented malware threats such as KASLR bypasses, preventing the installation of drivers that are flagged by Windows Security is crucial. While there may be rare instances where unsigned drivers are necessary, following best practices in this regard is essential. Keeping your operating system up to date and adopting the latest Windows version is a fundamental part of ensuring your system’s security.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is KASLR and why is it important for Windows security?
KASLR, or Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization, is a security feature in Windows that randomizes the memory allocation for kernel processes, making it significantly harder for malware to predict where to inject malicious code. This randomized layout adds a critical layer of defense against kernel-level attacks.
2. How can I check for LOLDrivers on my Windows machine?
You can easily check for LOLDrivers by using PowerShell in elevated mode. Run the command Get-WindowsDriver -Online | Where-Object { $_. OriginalFileName -match "sys"} | Format-Table OriginalFileName, ProviderName to view a list of drivers currently installed on your system.
3. What should I do if my system has outdated or insecure drivers?
If you come across outdated or potentially insecure drivers, it is recommended to uninstall them and replace them with secure, up-to-date drivers recommended by Microsoft. Additionally, you can download the latest driver blocklist from Microsoft to identify and prevent the installation of known insecure drivers.
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