CVE-2010-2240 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The do_anonymous_page function in mm/memory.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.27.52, 2.6.32.x before 2.6.32.19, 2.6.34.x before 2.6.34.4, and 2.6.35.x before 2.6.35.2 does not properly separate the stack and the heap, which allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code by writing to the bottom page of a shared memory segment, as demonstrated by a memory-exhaustion attack against the X.Org X server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2240 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Linux kernel's virtual memory subsystem that affects multiple kernel versions prior to specific patch releases. This issue resides in the do_anonymous_page function located in mm/memory.c, which handles the creation of anonymous memory pages during memory allocation operations. The flaw manifests when the kernel fails to properly enforce memory separation between stack and heap regions, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized code execution privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific memory layout manipulation technique that targets shared memory segments within the virtual address space. Attackers can leverage this flaw by writing to the bottom page of a shared memory segment, effectively bypassing normal memory protection mechanisms that should prevent such cross-region access. This memory exhaustion attack against the X.Org X server demonstrates how the vulnerability can be weaponized in real-world scenarios where graphical applications rely heavily on shared memory operations. The root cause lies in improper memory management during anonymous page allocation, where the kernel fails to maintain proper boundaries between different memory regions, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layouts in ways that should be prevented by standard security mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential system compromise and denial of service conditions. When exploited against the X.Org X server, the vulnerability can cause complete system instability or allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing all standard user-space security controls. This represents a severe escalation path that could enable attackers to gain full system control, install backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive data from systems running vulnerable kernel versions. The vulnerability's context-dependent nature means that exploitation requires specific conditions related to memory usage patterns and shared memory segment configurations, but once achieved, the consequences are devastating for system security.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." The memory separation failure creates a condition where attackers can manipulate memory boundaries to execute code in restricted memory regions, making this a prime example of how kernel-level memory management flaws can be exploited to achieve unauthorized access. Organizations should immediately patch affected systems to versions 2.6.27.52, 2.6.32.19, 2.6.34.4, or 2.6.35.2 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary fixes to properly enforce memory region separation. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unusual memory allocation patterns and implement memory protection mechanisms such as kernel address space layout randomization and stack canaries to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts.