CVE-2007-1865 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** The ipv6_getsockopt_sticky function in the kernel in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Beta 5.1.0 allows local users to obtain sensitive information (kernel memory contents) via a negative value of the len parameter. NOTE: this issue has been disputed in a bug comment, stating that "len is ignored when copying header info to the user s buffer."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1865 relates to a security flaw in the Linux kernel's IPv6 socket option handling mechanism within Red Hat Enterprise Linux Beta 5.1.0. This issue resides in the ipv6_getsockopt_sticky function which is responsible for processing socket options related to IPv6 networking operations. The vulnerability manifests when the function processes a negative value for the len parameter, potentially allowing unauthorized access to kernel memory contents. This represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that could enable local attackers to extract sensitive data from the kernel's memory space. The disputed nature of this CVE indicates that the security community has questioned the validity of the reported exploitability, suggesting that the len parameter may not actually influence the copying of header information to user buffers as initially claimed.
The technical flaw stems from improper parameter validation within the ipv6_getsockopt_sticky function implementation. When a negative value is passed as the len parameter, the function fails to properly sanitize or validate this input before proceeding with memory operations. This lack of input validation creates a potential pathway for information leakage where kernel memory addresses or contents could be inadvertently exposed to local users. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where the distinction between user space and kernel space memory becomes critical for system security. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would fall under CWE-200 Information Exposure, specifically related to improper handling of negative parameters in kernel memory operations. The function's behavior when encountering negative length values demonstrates a failure in input validation and memory boundary checking that could compromise system confidentiality.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running the affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux version. Local users who can execute code on the system could potentially leverage this flaw to extract kernel memory contents, which might include sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, system configuration data, or other confidential kernel structures. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the leaked kernel memory could contain data that might be used to facilitate further attacks or compromise additional system components. Attackers could potentially use the leaked information to perform more sophisticated exploitation techniques or to understand the kernel's memory layout for advanced persistent threats. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 Data from Local System, where adversaries attempt to gather sensitive information from compromised systems, and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation might involve crafting specific socket operations to trigger the vulnerability.
The disputed nature of this CVE highlights the complexity of kernel-level vulnerability analysis and the importance of thorough validation of security reports. The bug comment suggesting that "len is ignored when copying header info to the user's buffer" indicates that the actual vulnerability may be more nuanced than initially reported. This discrepancy underscores the need for precise technical analysis when evaluating kernel security issues, as the relationship between input parameters and memory operations in kernel space can be highly complex. The validation process for such vulnerabilities often requires detailed kernel source code examination and precise understanding of the networking subsystem's operation. Organizations should carefully evaluate the validity of such disputed CVEs and consider the specific kernel versions and configurations that might actually be affected by these issues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on proper input validation and parameter sanitization within kernel networking code. System administrators should ensure they are running patched versions of the Linux kernel that address the underlying issue in the ipv6_getsockopt_sticky function. The most effective approach involves applying security updates from Red Hat that contain fixes for the kernel's socket option handling. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unusual socket operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of local exploits, while regular security audits of kernel code can help identify similar issues in other networking functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date kernel versions and implementing robust security practices throughout the system lifecycle, particularly when dealing with low-level kernel operations that directly interface with memory management systems.