CVE-2006-3745 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the sctp_make_abort_user function in the SCTP implementation in Linux 2.6.x before 2.6.17.10 and 2.4.23 up to 2.4.33 allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) and possibly gain root privileges via unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3745 represents a critical flaw in the Stream Control Transmission Protocol implementation within Linux kernel versions prior to 2.6.17.10 and 2.4.23 through 2.4.33. This issue resides in the sctp_make_abort_user function which handles SCTP abort messages, making it a fundamental component of the network stack's error handling mechanism. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways could potentially exploit this weakness, indicating a deep-seated problem in how the kernel processes SCTP abort signals from user-space applications.
The technical flaw manifests as a potential kernel panic condition that can be triggered by local users through crafted SCTP abort messages. This vulnerability operates at the kernel level where the sctp_make_abort_user function fails to properly validate input parameters or handle certain abort scenarios, leading to system instability. The potential for privilege escalation to root privileges indicates that the flaw may allow attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for systems running vulnerable kernel versions. The issue is classified as a local privilege escalation vulnerability under CWE-20, which represents a classic input validation error that can lead to system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to systems where SCTP is enabled, particularly in environments where local users have access to network services or applications that utilize SCTP. The denial of service aspect means that an attacker can crash the entire system, causing service disruption and potential data loss. The privilege escalation capability extends the threat beyond simple DoS to full system compromise, allowing attackers to gain complete control over affected systems. This vulnerability would be particularly concerning in production environments where kernel updates may be delayed or where systems are not regularly maintained, as it provides a pathway for persistent system compromise that could go undetected for extended periods.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate kernel updates to versions 2.6.17.10 or later for the 2.6.x series, and 2.4.33 or later for the 2.4.x series. Organizations should prioritize patching systems running vulnerable kernel versions, especially those with network services that may be exposed to local users. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual SCTP traffic patterns or system crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. System hardening practices should be implemented to restrict local user access to network services and limit the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities, and T1499 which addresses network service disruption. Additionally, this flaw demonstrates the importance of kernel security auditing and proper input validation in network protocol implementations, as highlighted by CWE-129 and CWE-787 which address buffer overflows and out-of-bounds writes that could be present in the vulnerable code path.