CVE-2005-3105 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The mprotect code (mprotect.c) in Linux 2.6 on Itanium IA64 Montecito processors does not properly maintain cache coherency as required by the architecture, which allows local users to cause a denial of service and possibly corrupt data by modifying PTE protections.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3105 represents a critical architectural flaw in the Linux kernel's memory management subsystem specifically affecting Itanium IA64 Montecito processors. This issue resides within the mprotect.c code module which handles memory protection changes for virtual memory pages. The flaw stems from improper cache coherency maintenance during page table entry (PTE) protection modifications, creating a fundamental breach in the processor's memory management architecture. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems utilizing the Montecito processor architecture, which employs sophisticated caching mechanisms that require strict coherency protocols to maintain data integrity across multiple cache levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental difference between the kernel's memory management operations and the hardware's cache coherency requirements on Itanium processors. When the mprotect system call attempts to modify page protection attributes, the kernel fails to ensure proper cache line invalidation and coherency across all processor cores and cache levels. This breakdown occurs because the kernel does not issue the necessary cache maintenance operations required by the IA64 architecture's memory model. The flaw allows local attackers to manipulate memory protection settings in ways that bypass normal cache coherency mechanisms, potentially leading to data corruption or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include potential data corruption and system crashes. Local users can exploit this weakness to cause system-wide memory management failures by carefully crafting memory protection modifications that trigger cache coherency violations. The vulnerability's potential for data corruption places it in the category of serious security flaws that could compromise system integrity, particularly in environments where memory consistency is critical. Systems running Linux 2.6 kernels on Montecito processors face elevated risk of experiencing unpredictable behavior, application crashes, or complete system failures when memory protection operations are performed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require kernel-level patches that properly implement cache coherency maintenance during memory protection changes. The fix involves ensuring that appropriate cache maintenance operations are performed before and after PTE modifications to maintain coherency across all processor cache levels. Organizations should prioritize applying kernel updates that address this specific cache coherency issue, as the vulnerability affects the fundamental memory management capabilities of affected systems. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory management patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though such detection remains challenging due to the low-level nature of the vulnerability.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-1164, which addresses improper handling of cache coherency in memory management systems, and represents a classic example of architectural mismatch between software abstraction layers and hardware requirements. The issue demonstrates the complexity involved in maintaining proper memory management across different processor architectures, particularly those with sophisticated caching mechanisms like the Itanium architecture. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, as local users can leverage it to gain elevated system control or cause system instability. The vulnerability's impact on system integrity and memory management makes it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where system reliability and data consistency are paramount requirements.