CVE-2005-1264 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Raw character devices (raw.c) in the Linux kernel 2.6.x call the wrong function before passing an ioctl to the block device, which crosses security boundaries by making kernel address space accessible from user space, a similar vulnerability to CVE-2005-1589.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1264 resides within the Linux kernel's raw character device implementation, specifically in the raw.c file that handles raw block device access. This flaw represents a critical security issue that undermines the fundamental security boundaries between user space and kernel space operations. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions 2.6.x and demonstrates how improper function calls during ioctl processing can create unauthorized pathways for kernel memory access. The security implications are particularly severe because they enable user-space processes to potentially access kernel address space, creating a direct avenue for privilege escalation and system compromise.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the improper function invocation sequence within the raw character device driver's ioctl handling mechanism. When a user-space application attempts to perform ioctl operations on raw block devices, the kernel's raw.c implementation fails to properly validate or prepare the environment before delegating the ioctl request to the underlying block device driver. This misstep creates a scenario where kernel memory addresses become accessible to unprivileged user processes, effectively bypassing the kernel's memory protection mechanisms. The flaw operates by crossing traditional security boundaries that separate user-space applications from kernel-space operations, allowing unauthorized memory access patterns that should remain strictly protected.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system integrity and security posture. An attacker with access to a system running an affected kernel version could exploit this flaw to read kernel memory contents, potentially extracting sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, passwords, or other confidential data stored in kernel memory. The vulnerability's similarity to CVE-2005-1589 indicates it follows established patterns of kernel memory exposure through device driver interfaces. This type of flaw can enable sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, where user-space processes gain kernel-level privileges, or information disclosure attacks that compromise the entire system's security. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures where multiple vulnerable systems exist.
The security implications align with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls in kernel-level code, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities. Mitigation strategies should include immediate kernel updates to versions that address this specific flaw in raw.c implementation, along with comprehensive system hardening measures. System administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious ioctl operations on raw devices and consider disabling unnecessary raw device access where possible. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper kernel memory management and the necessity of rigorous security testing for device drivers, particularly those handling low-level hardware operations. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation vectors and reduce the attack surface available to adversaries seeking to leverage such kernel-level vulnerabilities.