CVE-2005-2458 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
inflate.c in the zlib routines in the Linux kernel before 2.6.12.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel crash) via a compressed file with "improper tables".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2458 represents a critical flaw in the Linux kernel's compression handling mechanism, specifically within the zlib routines that are integral to kernel operations. This vulnerability resides in the inflate.c component of the zlib library implementation within the Linux kernel, affecting systems running kernel versions prior to 2.6.12.5. The flaw manifests when the kernel processes compressed files that contain malformed or improperly structured compression tables, leading to a kernel panic and subsequent system crash. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through compressed file inputs, making it a significant threat to system availability and stability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the decompression routine. When the kernel encounters a compressed file with improper tables, the inflate.c function fails to properly handle the malformed data structure, resulting in memory corruption or stack overflow conditions that trigger kernel panics. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to craft malicious compressed files that, when processed by the kernel's decompression routines, cause the kernel to execute invalid memory operations that result in system crashes. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling in the compression algorithm implementation, where the system does not adequately protect against malformed input data that could lead to kernel-level memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2458 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a fundamental security weakness that can be exploited to disrupt system availability and potentially compromise system integrity. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to systematically crash target systems by uploading or transmitting compressed files containing the malicious table structures. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks, and more specifically targets system resource exhaustion through kernel-level crashes. The vulnerability affects any system that processes compressed data through the kernel's zlib routines, including web servers, file servers, and any network services that handle compressed file uploads or transfers. The widespread use of the affected kernel versions in production environments makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for system administrators and security professionals managing large-scale deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2458 primarily focus on immediate kernel version updates to 2.6.12.5 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the improper table handling issue. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and verify that all kernel components are updated to versions that have been tested and confirmed to address this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for compressed file handling, deploying network monitoring to detect suspicious compressed file transfers, and establishing robust system monitoring to identify potential kernel crashes. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date kernel versions and proper input validation in system security architectures, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign compression functionality can become a significant attack surface when not properly secured against malformed input data.