CVE-2008-3526 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the sctp_setsockopt_auth_key function in net/sctp/socket.c in the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (sctp) implementation in the Linux kernel 2.6.24-rc1 through 2.6.26.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (panic) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted sca_keylength field associated with the SCTP_AUTH_KEY option.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3526 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) implementation in Linux kernel versions 2.6.24-rc1 through 2.6.26.3. This issue resides in the sctp_setsockopt_auth_key function located in net/sctp/socket.c, which handles authentication key management for SCTP connections. The flaw specifically manifests when processing the sca_keylength field associated with the SCTP_AUTH_KEY socket option, creating a scenario where malicious input can trigger unexpected behavior in the kernel's memory management and processing routines.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic handling within the kernel's SCTP subsystem. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious SCTP_AUTH_KEY option with an oversized sca_keylength value, the integer overflow occurs during the calculation or assignment of memory allocation parameters. This overflow condition can cause the kernel to attempt to allocate an invalid memory block or manipulate memory pointers in ways that were not anticipated by the original implementation. The vulnerability falls under CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented class of issues where arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value representable by the data type, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially leading to system instability or complete denial of service conditions. When exploited, the integer overflow can cause the Linux kernel to panic, resulting in a system crash that requires manual reboot to restore normal operation. This type of denial of service attack can be particularly damaging in production environments where system availability is critical. Additionally, the vulnerability may enable more sophisticated attacks that could potentially lead to privilege escalation or information disclosure, although the primary documented impact remains denial of service. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a system service denial of service technique, potentially involving privilege escalation through kernel exploitation if additional vulnerabilities are present.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Linux kernel versions to the latest stable releases that contain the appropriate fixes for the integer overflow condition. System administrators should prioritize updating their kernel versions to avoid exploitation, as the vulnerability affects a core networking component that is actively used in many production environments. Network administrators should also implement monitoring for suspicious SCTP traffic patterns and consider implementing firewall rules that limit SCTP traffic or filter out malformed packets that could trigger the overflow condition. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected kernel versions and ensure that all patches are properly applied and tested in their environments. The fix typically involves adding proper bounds checking and input validation to ensure that the sca_keylength parameter remains within acceptable ranges before any memory allocation or processing occurs, preventing the integer overflow from occurring in the first place.