CVE-2005-2457 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The driver for compressed ISO file systems (zisofs) in the Linux kernel before 2.6.12.5 allows local users and remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel crash) via a crafted compressed ISO file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2457 affects the Linux kernel's handling of compressed iso file systems through the zisofs driver implementation. This flaw exists in kernel versions prior to 2.6.12.5 and represents a critical security issue that can be exploited by both local users and remote attackers to trigger kernel crashes and subsequent denial of service conditions. The vulnerability specifically targets the decompression routines within the zisofs driver which processes compressed iso files, creating a pathway for malicious input to cause system instability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the zisofs driver's decompression algorithms. When the kernel processes a crafted compressed iso file, the driver fails to properly validate the structure and size parameters of the compressed data, allowing maliciously constructed file headers or compression metadata to cause buffer overflows or invalid memory accesses. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which encompasses issues related to improper validation of input boundaries and insufficient checks for array indexing. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where improper handling of user-supplied data can directly impact system stability and availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt critical system operations and potentially escalate privileges. Local users can exploit this weakness by creating malicious iso files that trigger kernel panics when mounted, while remote attackers can deliver such payloads through network-based iso file transfers or by exploiting services that handle iso file processing. The attack surface is broad as any system that supports iso file mounting or processing becomes vulnerable, including servers, desktop systems, and embedded devices running affected kernel versions. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks and T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2457 require immediate kernel updates to versions 2.6.12.5 or later where the zisofs driver has been patched to include proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize patching all affected systems and disable iso file mounting capabilities when not required for operations. Additional protective measures include implementing proper file validation for iso content, monitoring system logs for kernel panic messages, and using network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious iso file transfers. The fix implemented in the patched kernel versions addresses the core issue by adding comprehensive input validation routines that prevent malformed compressed iso data from causing kernel crashes, thereby preventing the exploitation of this vulnerability through both local and remote attack vectors.