CVE-2004-1335 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Memory leak in the ip_options_get function in the Linux kernel before 2.6.10 allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by repeatedly calling the ip_cmsg_send function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1335 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Linux kernel's networking stack that specifically affects versions prior to 2.6.10. This issue resides in the ip_options_get function which handles IP options processing during socket communication operations. The vulnerability manifests when local users repeatedly invoke the ip_cmsg_send function, a mechanism used for sending control messages associated with socket operations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with a denial of service attack vector that gradually consumes system memory resources until the system becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper memory deallocation within the kernel's IP options handling code. When ip_cmsg_send is called repeatedly, the ip_options_get function fails to properly release allocated memory structures that are dynamically created to store IP options data. This memory leak occurs because the kernel does not adequately track or clean up memory allocations that occur during repeated function calls, leading to a progressive consumption of available system memory. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel's socket communication layer and operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system stability regardless of user privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Linux systems running affected kernel versions as local users can exploit it to gradually exhaust system memory resources. The impact extends beyond simple resource consumption, as sustained exploitation can lead to system crashes, application failures, and overall system instability. The memory leak affects the entire kernel's memory management subsystem, potentially causing cascading failures that impact network services, system responsiveness, and overall operational availability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in server environments where continuous network operations are expected, as the memory consumption can grow unbounded over time.
The flaw aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper release of memory, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should prioritize immediate kernel updates to version 2.6.10 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should include regular kernel patching, network segmentation to limit local user access, and implementation of memory monitoring tools to detect potential exploitation activities. Given the kernel-level nature of the vulnerability, complete remediation requires updating the operating system to a patched version, as no effective workarounds exist for this specific memory management flaw.