CVE-2004-1038 in IEEE1394
Summary
by MITRE
a design error in the ieee1394 specification allows attackers with physical access to a device to read and write to sensitive memory using a modified firewire/ieee 1394 client thus bypassing intended restrictions that would normally require greater degrees of physical access to exploit. note: this was reported in 2008 to affect windows vista but some linux-based operating systems have protection mechanisms against this attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1038 represents a fundamental design flaw within the IEEE 1394 (FireWire) specification that fundamentally undermines the security model of peripheral device communication. This weakness stems from the protocol's inherent trust model where devices connected via FireWire are granted automatic access to system memory without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability specifically targets the lack of proper memory protection mechanisms within the IEEE 1394 standard, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by adversaries with physical access to a target system. This design error effectively transforms what should be a controlled and secure peripheral communication channel into a potential vector for arbitrary memory access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security is compromised.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker with physical access to a system connects a modified FireWire client device that can manipulate the IEEE 1394 protocol stack. The attack leverages the protocol's automatic privilege escalation mechanism where connected devices can directly access system memory through the FireWire bus without requiring elevated privileges or authentication. This flaw allows attackers to perform both read and write operations against sensitive memory regions, potentially accessing kernel memory, user credentials, encryption keys, and other confidential data. The vulnerability operates at the hardware level and bypasses traditional operating system security controls, making it particularly insidious because it can be exploited even when the system is running with standard security measures in place. This type of attack falls under the CWE-254 category of "Weaknesses in Memory Management" and represents a classic example of inadequate privilege separation in hardware protocols.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1038 is significant and multifaceted, particularly in enterprise and government environments where physical security may be compromised. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially accessing passwords, encryption keys, and other critical data without requiring sophisticated attack vectors or network connectivity. The vulnerability affects both Windows Vista and various Linux-based systems, though Linux implementations have shown some built-in protection mechanisms that can mitigate the risk. The attack requires only physical access to the target device, making it particularly dangerous in scenarios involving stolen laptops, compromised workstations, or unsecured environments where adversaries can easily connect peripheral devices. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" when considering how such memory access can be leveraged for further compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1038 focus on both hardware and software approaches to restrict FireWire access. Operating system vendors have implemented various protections including disabling FireWire bus access in kernel memory, implementing memory access controls, and providing configuration options to disable IEEE 1394 support entirely. System administrators should disable FireWire ports when not actively needed, particularly on mobile devices and laptops where physical security is more challenging to maintain. The implementation of proper access controls and memory protection mechanisms in operating systems provides defense-in-depth against this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing physical security measures such as cable locks, secure workstations, and monitoring for unauthorized peripheral connections. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of considering hardware-level security in system design and represents a key example of why security by design principles are essential in developing robust computing environments.