CVE-2005-3273 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The rose_rt_ioctl function in rose_route.c for Radionet Open Source Environment (ROSE) in Linux 2.6 kernels before 2.6.12, and 2.4 before 2.4.29, does not properly verify the ndigis argument for a new route, which allows attackers to trigger array out-of-bounds errors with a large number of digipeats.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3273 resides within the Radionet Open Source Environment implementation in Linux kernel versions prior to 2.6.12 and 2.4.29. This issue affects the rose_rt_ioctl function located in the rose_route.c file, which handles routing operations for the ROSE protocol. The ROSE protocol is part of the Amateur Radio Packet Radio network infrastructure and provides routing capabilities for packet-switched communications over amateur radio networks. The flaw manifests when processing new route configurations through the ioctl interface, specifically when handling the ndigis argument that specifies the number of digipeats for a route.
The technical flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition stemming from inadequate input validation. The rose_rt_ioctl function fails to properly validate the ndigis parameter before using it to determine array bounds for digipeat storage. When an attacker provides an excessive number of digipeats, the function does not perform adequate bounds checking to ensure the requested number does not exceed the allocated array size. This oversight allows for array out-of-bounds memory access patterns that can result in kernel memory corruption and system instability. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially be exploited to gain unauthorized system access or cause denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The out-of-bounds memory access can cause kernel panics, system crashes, or more insidiously, allow for privilege escalation attacks that could enable unauthorized users to gain root access to affected systems. Given that the vulnerability affects core kernel networking functionality, any system running affected kernel versions is at risk, particularly those operating amateur radio networks or systems that utilize the ROSE protocol for packet radio communications. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local access or network-based attack capabilities depending on the system configuration, making it a significant concern for network administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3273 primarily focus on kernel version updates to patched releases. System administrators should immediately upgrade to kernel versions 2.6.12 or 2.4.29 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for the validation logic. Additionally, implementing proper input validation measures at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection. Network segmentation and access controls should limit exposure to potentially compromised systems, while monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns related to ROSE protocol operations can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of array index values, and represents a potential entry point for ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in kernel-mode components. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel hardening measures such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to further reduce exploitation success rates.