Kernel level driver - Revision history

Sojourna: /* Consumer impact summary */ oops, missed this one

2025-10-18T01:39:33Z

Consumer impact summary: oops, missed this one

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:39, 18 October 2025
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	Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read and write the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permanently damage or disable hardware components.		Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read and write the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permanently damage or disable hardware components.

	Many companies now require the use of proprietary drivers in order to use applications that would work fine in user space, like [[~~Kernel Level Anti~~-~~Cheats~~]]. This gives these companies unrestricted access to a consumer's system, allowing for unmoderated data collection and control.		Many companies now require the use of proprietary drivers in order to use applications that would work fine in user space, like [[kernel level anti-cheats]]. This gives these companies unrestricted access to a consumer's system, allowing for unmoderated data collection and control.

	==Examples==		==Examples==

Sojourna at 01:37, 18 October 2025

2025-10-18T01:37:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:37, 18 October 2025
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	There are even lower level processors and programs, which typically operate beyond the control of an operating system. Examples include the UEFI or BIOS, the Intel management engine (and similar processors from other manufacturers), the microcode, and the controllers on various devices (like the storage controller on a solid state drive). These are typically proprietary, less well documented and less well understood than the kernel. They can pose similar risks to kernel drivers.		There are even lower level processors and programs, which typically operate beyond the control of an operating system. Examples include the UEFI or BIOS, the Intel management engine (and similar processors from other manufacturers), the microcode, and the controllers on various devices (like the storage controller on a solid state drive). These are typically proprietary, less well documented and less well understood than the kernel. They can pose similar risks to kernel drivers.

	==Consumer ~~Impact~~==		==Consumer impact summary==
	Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read and write the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permanently damage or disable hardware components.		Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read and write the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permanently damage or disable hardware components.

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	==Examples==		==Examples==
			*{{Wplink\|CrowdStrike}}
	*~~[[wikipedia:CrowdStrike~~\|CrowdStrike]]		*{{Wplink\|Cheating in online games#Anti-cheating methods and limitations\|Anti-cheats}}, like Easy Anti Cheat and EA Anti Cheat
	*~~[[wikipedia:Cheating_in_online_games~~#Anti-~~cheating_methods_and_limitations~~\|Anti-cheats]], like Easy Anti Cheat and EA Anti Cheat

	==Incidents==		==Incidents==
			*{{Wplink\|2024 CrowdStrike-related IT outages}}

	*[[wikipedia:2024_CrowdStrike-related_IT_outages\|2024 CrowdStrike-related IT outages]]		==See also==
			*[[Kernel level anti-cheats]]
	==See ~~Also~~==		*[[Trusted computing]]

	*[[Kernel ~~Level Anti~~-~~Cheats~~]]
	*[[Trusted ~~Computing~~]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{~~reflist~~}}		{{Reflist}}

	[[Category:Common terms]]		[[Category:Common terms]]

Drakeula: Drakeula moved page Kernel Level Drivers to Kernel level driver: Misspelled title: Not in sentence case

2025-10-12T03:40:25Z

Drakeula moved page Kernel Level Drivers to Kernel level driver: Misspelled title: Not in sentence case

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:40, 12 October 2025
(No difference)

Drakeula: Trusted Computing

2025-09-21T23:17:12Z

Trusted Computing

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:17, 21 September 2025
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	*[[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]		*[[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]
			*[[Trusted Computing]]

	==References==		==References==

Drakeula: Note layers below the kernel

2025-09-21T23:14:37Z

Note layers below the kernel

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:14, 21 September 2025
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	{{Incomplete\|Issue 1=No references}}		{{Incomplete\|Issue 1=No references}}

	Kernel drivers, kernel modules, or drivers are ~~modules of code~~ that run inside the kernel of an operating system. Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with hardware devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, and network cards. Kernel access is required since these drivers usually manage hardware directly, which isn't possible in user space. This code is ~~unrestricted~~ since it runs inside of the kernel, meaning drivers have the ~~highest privilege level—~~ higher than even the traditional administrator role. If kernel code fails, the entire system ~~crashes~~. In comparison, user processes can gracefully exit without affecting other processes. Also, if a kernel driver has any vulnerabilities, these can be exploited ~~by bad actors~~ to gain kernel access and bypass any security measures the user has in place.		'''Kernel drivers''', kernel modules, or drivers are programs that run inside the kernel of an operating system. The kernel is the most fundamental part of the operating system, it provides basic services which other parts of the operating system use. Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with hardware devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, and network cards. Kernel access is required since these drivers usually manage hardware directly, which isn't possible in user space. This code is minimally restricted since it runs inside of the kernel, meaning drivers have privilege as high as any other part of the operating system — higher than even the traditional administrator role. If kernel code fails, the entire system may crash, or become unreliable. In comparison, user processes can gracefully exit without affecting other processes. Also, if a kernel driver has any vulnerabilities, these can be exploited to gain kernel access and bypass any security measures the user has in place.

			There are even lower level processors and programs, which typically operate beyond the control of an operating system. Examples include the UEFI or BIOS, the Intel management engine (and similar processors from other manufacturers), the microcode, and the controllers on various devices (like the storage controller on a solid state drive). These are typically proprietary, less well documented and less well understood than the kernel. They can pose similar risks to kernel drivers.

	==Consumer Impact==		==Consumer Impact==
	Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permanently damage or disable hardware components.		Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read and write the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permanently damage or disable hardware components.

	Many companies now require the use of proprietary drivers in order to use applications that would work fine in user space, like [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]. This gives these companies unrestricted access to a consumer's system, allowing for unmoderated data collection and control.		Many companies now require the use of proprietary drivers in order to use applications that would work fine in user space, like [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]. This gives these companies unrestricted access to a consumer's system, allowing for unmoderated data collection and control.

JackFromWisconsin: add notice

2025-08-18T14:00:34Z

add notice

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:00, 18 August 2025
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			{{Incomplete\|Issue 1=No references}}

	Kernel drivers, kernel modules, or drivers are modules of code that run inside the kernel of an operating system. Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with hardware devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, and network cards. Kernel access is required since these drivers usually manage hardware directly, which isn't possible in user space. This code is unrestricted since it runs inside of the kernel, meaning drivers have the highest privilege level— higher than even the traditional administrator role. If kernel code fails, the entire system crashes. In comparison, user processes can gracefully exit without affecting other processes. Also, if a kernel driver has any vulnerabilities, these can be exploited by bad actors to gain kernel access and bypass any security measures the user has in place.		Kernel drivers, kernel modules, or drivers are modules of code that run inside the kernel of an operating system. Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with hardware devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, and network cards. Kernel access is required since these drivers usually manage hardware directly, which isn't possible in user space. This code is unrestricted since it runs inside of the kernel, meaning drivers have the highest privilege level— higher than even the traditional administrator role. If kernel code fails, the entire system crashes. In comparison, user processes can gracefully exit without affecting other processes. Also, if a kernel driver has any vulnerabilities, these can be exploited by bad actors to gain kernel access and bypass any security measures the user has in place.

136.226.7.55: Couple of typos

2025-06-23T21:38:19Z

Couple of typos

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:38, 23 June 2025
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			Kernel drivers, kernel modules, or drivers are modules of code that run inside the kernel of an operating system. Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with hardware devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, and network cards. Kernel access is required since these drivers usually manage hardware directly, which isn't possible in user space. This code is unrestricted since it runs inside of the kernel, meaning drivers have the highest privilege level— higher than even the traditional administrator role. If kernel code fails, the entire system crashes. In comparison, user processes can gracefully exit without affecting other processes. Also, if a kernel driver has any vulnerabilities, these can be exploited by bad actors to gain kernel access and bypass any security measures the user has in place.

	Kernel drivers, kernel modules, or drivers are modules of code that run inside the kernel of an operating system. Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with hardware devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, and network cards. Kernel access is required since these drivers usually manage hardware directly, which isn't possible in user space. This code is unresricted since it runs inside of the kernel, meaning drivers have the highest privledge level— higher than even the traditional administrator role. If kernel code fails, the entire system crashes. In comparision, user processes can gracefully exit without affecting other processes. Also, if a kernel driver has any vulnerabilities, these can be exploited by bad actors to gain kernel access and bypass any security measures the user has in place.		==Consumer Impact==
			Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permanently damage or disable hardware components.
	== Consumer Impact ==
	Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to ~~permantely~~ damage or disable hardware components.

	Many companies now require the use of proprietary drivers in order to use applications that would work fine in user space, like [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]. This gives these companies unrestricted access to a consumer's system, allowing for unmoderated data collection and control.		Many companies now require the use of proprietary drivers in order to use applications that would work fine in user space, like [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]. This gives these companies unrestricted access to a consumer's system, allowing for unmoderated data collection and control.
Line 10:		Line 9:
	==Examples==		==Examples==

	* [[wikipedia:CrowdStrike\|CrowdStrike]]		*[[wikipedia:CrowdStrike\|CrowdStrike]]
	* [[wikipedia:Cheating_in_online_games#Anti-cheating_methods_and_limitations\|Anti-cheats]], like Easy Anti Cheat and EA Anti Cheat		*[[wikipedia:Cheating_in_online_games#Anti-cheating_methods_and_limitations\|Anti-cheats]], like Easy Anti Cheat and EA Anti Cheat

	== Incidents ==		==Incidents==

	* [[wikipedia:2024_CrowdStrike-related_IT_outages\|2024 CrowdStrike-related IT outages]]		*[[wikipedia:2024_CrowdStrike-related_IT_outages\|2024 CrowdStrike-related IT outages]]

	== See Also ==		==See Also==

	* [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]		*[[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]

	==References==		==References==

JP: Reword and format the article to flow better. Also corrected some terminology.

2025-06-21T16:49:34Z

Reword and format the article to flow better. Also corrected some terminology.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:49, 21 June 2025
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	Use of Kernel Level Drivers as a mandatory component of userspace software, such as for cybersecurity or [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]], is a process in which software companies will release proprietary drivers to be installed to the end user's kernel along with a piece of software, and in many cases will not allow that software to function without them.

	~~==How it works==~~
	Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, network cards, and more. Such communication requires kernel level access to the operating system as these drivers each manage hyper specific hardware. However in order to gain this privileged access to end user machines, companies have begun writing drivers as a component of their userspace software and in some cases requiring it to load on boot.

	~~==Why it is a problem==~~		Kernel drivers, kernel modules, or drivers are modules of code that run inside the kernel of an operating system. Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with hardware devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, and network cards. Kernel access is required since these drivers usually manage hardware directly, which isn't possible in user space. This code is unresricted since it runs inside of the kernel, meaning drivers have the highest privledge level— higher than even the traditional administrator role. If kernel code fails, the entire system crashes. In comparision, user processes can gracefully exit without affecting other processes. Also, if a kernel driver has any vulnerabilities, these can be exploited by bad actors to gain kernel access and bypass any security measures the user has in place.
	Kernel access ~~allows full~~ system ~~monitoring~~, ~~which creates numerous privacy concerns~~.

	~~Further~~, ~~allowing third parties~~ to ~~define unnecessary~~ drivers ~~creates further points of failure~~ that ~~could end up bricking the operating~~ system.		== Consumer Impact ==
			Code running in the kernel presents numerous privacy and security concerns. Code running in the kernel can read the memory of any running process, including apps and websites used for banking, passwords, and other highly sensitive actions. Additionally, it has full control over all hardware, including the capability to permantely damage or disable hardware components.

			Many companies now require the use of proprietary drivers in order to use applications that would work fine in user space, like [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]. This gives these companies unrestricted access to a consumer's system, allowing for unmoderated data collection and control.

	==Examples==		==Examples==

			* [[wikipedia:CrowdStrike\|CrowdStrike]]
			* [[wikipedia:Cheating_in_online_games#Anti-cheating_methods_and_limitations\|Anti-cheats]], like Easy Anti Cheat and EA Anti Cheat

			== Incidents ==

			* [[wikipedia:2024_CrowdStrike-related_IT_outages\|2024 CrowdStrike-related IT outages]]

			== See Also ==

			* [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]]

	The 2024 Crowdstrike outage<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Warren \|first=Tom \|date=2024-07-19 \|title=Major Windows BSOD issue hits banks, airlines, and TV broadcasters \|url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/19/24201717/windows-bsod-crowdstrike-outage-issue \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-06-18 \|website=The Verge}}</ref> shows the potential consequences of allowing third party kernel-level access.
	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

	[[Category:Common terms]]		[[Category:Common terms]]

Fireye: Init

2025-06-18T18:28:21Z

Init

New page

Use of Kernel Level Drivers as a mandatory component of userspace software, such as for cybersecurity or [[Kernel Level Anti-Cheats]], is a process in which software companies will release proprietary drivers to be installed to the end user's kernel along with a piece of software, and in many cases will not allow that software to function without them.

==How it works==
Kernel drivers allow the computer to communicate with devices such as keyboards, mice, storage, network cards, and more. Such communication requires kernel level access to the operating system as these drivers each manage hyper specific hardware. However in order to gain this privileged access to end user machines, companies have begun writing drivers as a component of their userspace software and in some cases requiring it to load on boot.

==Why it is a problem==
Kernel access allows full system monitoring, which creates numerous privacy concerns.

Further, allowing third parties to define unnecessary drivers creates further points of failure that could end up bricking the operating system.

==Examples==

The 2024 Crowdstrike outage<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2024-07-19 |title=Major Windows BSOD issue hits banks, airlines, and TV broadcasters |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/19/24201717/windows-bsod-crowdstrike-outage-issue |url-status=live |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=The Verge}}</ref> shows the potential consequences of allowing third party kernel-level access.
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]