CVE-2001-1133 in BSD OS
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in a system call in BSDI 3.0 and 3.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (reboot) in the kernel via a particular sequence of instructions.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1133 represents a critical kernel-level flaw present in BSDI 3.0 and 3.1 operating systems that enables local attackers to execute a denial of service attack resulting in system reboot. This vulnerability exploits a weakness in the system call implementation that governs how user-space processes interact with kernel-space functionality. The flaw manifests when specific sequences of instructions are executed in a particular order, triggering an unintended kernel state that ultimately leads to system termination and automatic reboot. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-119 as a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within kernel space, demonstrating how improper handling of system call parameters can result in catastrophic system failure. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves system shutdown/reboot attacks, representing a form of destructive cyber warfare that can disrupt critical operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the kernel level where system calls are processed and validated before executing privileged operations. When a local user executes a specific sequence of instructions designed to manipulate kernel memory or register states, the system call handler fails to properly validate input parameters or maintain proper state management. This allows the malicious sequence to traverse kernel boundaries and trigger an internal kernel error condition that cannot be recovered from gracefully. The kernel's inability to handle this particular instruction flow results in a kernel panic or fatal exception that automatically reboots the system to prevent potential further corruption or exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and state management practices that are fundamental to secure kernel design, as outlined in the CERT/CC secure coding guidelines for kernel-level programming.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-1133 extends beyond simple system unavailability to potentially disrupt critical services and operations that depend on continuous system uptime. In environments where BSDI 3.0 and 3.1 systems are deployed, particularly in network infrastructure, database servers, or mission-critical applications, this vulnerability can result in significant service disruption and data loss. The local nature of the attack means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where privilege escalation might not be properly enforced. Organizations running these vulnerable systems face risks of both operational disruption and potential data integrity issues if systems are repeatedly rebooted during critical operations. The vulnerability also represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the reboot condition to bypass security measures or establish persistent access points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1133 primarily involve immediate system updates and patches provided by BSDI to address the kernel-level flaw in system call handling. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of BSDI 3.1 or migrating to more recent operating system versions that have addressed this vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict access controls and privilege management to limit local user access to systems running vulnerable versions, as the attack requires local execution privileges. Network segmentation and monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual reboot patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel security hardening practices and proper input validation in system call handlers. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious instruction sequences and maintain regular system backups to ensure rapid recovery from potential exploitation events. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing system configurations and applications.