CVE-2004-1057 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple drivers in Linux kernel 2.4.19 and earlier do not properly mark memory with the VM_IO flag, which causes incorrect reference counts and may lead to a denial of service (kernel panic) when accessing freed kernel pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1057 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Linux kernel version 2.4.19 and earlier releases. This issue stems from improper handling of memory mapping flags, specifically the failure to correctly set the VM_IO flag in multiple kernel drivers. The VM_IO flag serves as a crucial indicator to the kernel's memory management subsystem that the memory region being accessed is associated with I/O operations rather than standard memory allocation. When this flag is omitted, the kernel's memory reference counting mechanism becomes compromised, creating a dangerous condition where kernel memory pages can be accessed after they have been freed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of kernel drivers that handle memory mapping operations. When drivers fail to properly mark memory regions with VM_IO, the kernel's page management system cannot accurately track the lifecycle of these memory pages. This leads to a scenario where freed pages remain accessible to the kernel's memory management routines, causing reference count inconsistencies that can trigger kernel panics. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level, where unauthorized access can result in complete system compromise or denial of service conditions. The flaw essentially creates a race condition between memory allocation and deallocation processes, where the kernel's internal bookkeeping becomes corrupted.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1057 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. When a kernel panic occurs due to this vulnerability, it can result in complete system crashes that require manual rebooting and may lead to data loss. The vulnerability affects multiple drivers simultaneously, increasing the attack surface and making it more difficult to predict when the condition will be triggered. System administrators face the challenge of identifying which specific drivers are affected, as the issue manifests through various kernel subsystems. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-122, which describes improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local system privileges to gain elevated access through kernel-level vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1057 require immediate kernel updates to versions 2.4.20 and later, where the memory management fixes have been implemented. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running older kernel versions in production environments. The vulnerability can be addressed through proper kernel configuration and driver updates that ensure all memory regions are correctly marked with the VM_IO flag. Additionally, monitoring systems should be implemented to detect unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel lockdown mechanisms and restricting unnecessary driver loading to minimize exposure. The fix implemented in newer kernel versions properly enforces memory mapping flag requirements and restores correct reference counting behavior, eliminating the conditions that lead to kernel panics and ensuring system stability.