CVE-2003-1288 in Vserver
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple race conditions in Linux-VServer 1.22 with Linux kernel 2.4.23 and SMP allow local users to cause a denial of service (kernel oops) via unknown attack vectors related to the (1) s_info and (2) ip_info data structures and the (a) forget_original_parent, (b) goodness, (c) schedule, (d) update_process_times, and (e) vc_new_s_context functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1288 represents a critical race condition issue within the Linux-VServer 1.22 virtualization environment running on Linux kernel 2.4.23 with Symmetric Multi-Processing support. This flaw exists in the kernel-level implementation of virtual server functionality and specifically affects the handling of shared data structures that manage process and network information within the virtualized environment. The race conditions occur when multiple processes or threads attempt to access and modify the s_info and ip_info data structures simultaneously, creating unpredictable behavior that can lead to kernel instability and system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms in the kernel code that manages virtual server contexts. When the system encounters concurrent access to the s_info and ip_info structures during operations involving the forget_original_parent, goodness, schedule, update_process_times, and vc_new_s_context functions, the lack of proper locking mechanisms allows for inconsistent state modifications. These functions are integral to process scheduling and context management within the virtual server environment, where the race conditions manifest when multiple threads attempt to manipulate shared resources without adequate mutual exclusion controls. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel's ability to maintain data integrity across concurrent operations, leading to memory corruption and kernel oops conditions that ultimately result in system crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as local attackers with access to the system can exploit these race conditions to cause system instability and potentially disrupt critical services running within the virtualized environment. The kernel oops conditions triggered by these race conditions can lead to complete system hangs or forced reboots, effectively rendering the virtual server environment unavailable to legitimate users. In enterprise environments where Linux-VServer is used for containerization and resource isolation, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to service availability and system reliability, particularly in multi-tenant configurations where multiple virtual environments share the same physical hardware resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Linux-VServer implementation to address the race condition issues in the affected kernel functions. System administrators should ensure that all virtual server environments are updated to versions that include proper synchronization mechanisms for the affected data structures. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual system behavior or kernel oops messages can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes race conditions in concurrent programming, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and T1566.001 for phishing with malicious attachments, as exploitation could lead to broader system compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as process isolation, resource limits, and regular system auditing to reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access that could lead to exploitation of this kernel-level vulnerability.