CVE-2007-4130 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE
The Linux kernel 2.6.9 before 2.6.9-67 in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 4 on Itanium (ia64) does not properly handle page faults during NUMA memory access, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via invalid arguments to set_mempolicy in an MPOL_BIND operation.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4130 represents a critical flaw in the Linux kernel's memory management subsystem specifically affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 running on Itanium architecture. This issue stems from improper handling of page faults during Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) memory operations, creating a condition where local users can trigger system instability through crafted memory policy operations. The vulnerability exists within kernel version 2.6.9 before 2.6.9-67, making systems running this specific kernel version susceptible to exploitation. The flaw manifests when the kernel encounters invalid arguments during MPOL_BIND operations, which are part of the memory policy interface used to control memory allocation behavior across multiple memory nodes in NUMA systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the kernel's memory management code failing to properly validate input parameters when processing NUMA memory policy operations. Specifically, during MPOL_BIND operations which are designed to bind memory allocations to specific nodes in a NUMA system, the kernel does not adequately check the validity of the provided arguments. When invalid arguments are passed to the set_mempolicy function, particularly in the context of memory binding operations, the kernel's page fault handling mechanism becomes compromised. This improper handling leads to a kernel panic, which is the most severe form of system crash in Unix-like operating systems, resulting in complete system shutdown and denial of service for all users and processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes as it provides attackers with a reliable method to perform denial of service attacks against systems running vulnerable kernel versions. Local users who have access to the system can exploit this weakness to repeatedly crash the kernel, causing service interruptions that can last for extended periods. In enterprise environments where RHEL 4 systems are deployed, this vulnerability poses significant operational risks as it can be leveraged to disrupt critical business applications and services. The Itanium architecture adds complexity to the exploitation since NUMA memory management is particularly critical for high-performance computing environments, making the impact more severe in systems designed for intensive computational workloads.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific implementation involves improper memory access handling rather than traditional buffer overflows. The attack pattern corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, specifically targeting system disruption through kernel-level attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices in kernel space code, where insufficient parameter checking leads to system instability. Organizations should prioritize patching systems running kernel versions 2.6.9 before 2.6.9-67, as this vulnerability represents a straightforward path to system compromise that does not require elevated privileges beyond local user access. The remediation process involves updating to the patched kernel version provided by Red Hat, which includes proper validation of memory policy arguments and robust handling of page fault conditions during NUMA memory operations.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of thorough testing and validation of kernel memory management functions, particularly in complex architectures like Itanium that rely heavily on NUMA optimizations. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual system crashes or panic events that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date kernel versions and applying security patches promptly to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in operating system components. Organizations with legacy RHEL 4 deployments should consider migrating to supported kernel versions that have addressed this and similar memory management vulnerabilities to ensure system stability and security.