CVE-2010-2478 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the ethtool_get_rxnfc function in net/core/ethtool.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.33.7 on 32-bit platforms allows local users to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via an ETHTOOL_GRXCLSRLALL ethtool command with a large info.rule_cnt value that triggers a buffer overflow, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-3084.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2478 represents a critical integer overflow condition within the Linux kernel's ethtool implementation that affects systems running 32-bit architectures. This flaw exists in the ethtool_get_rxnfc function located in net/core/ethtool.c and impacts kernel versions prior to 2.6.33.7. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing ETHTOOL_GRXCLSRLALL commands, which are used to retrieve classification rules from the network driver's receive flow classifier. The issue arises from insufficient validation of the info.rule_cnt parameter, which can be manipulated by local users to trigger unintended behavior in kernel memory management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted ethtool command that sets an excessively large value for the rule_cnt field. When the kernel processes this malformed input, the integer overflow causes the system to allocate insufficient memory buffers for storing the classification rules. This buffer overflow condition can result in memory corruption within kernel space, potentially leading to system instability and denial of service scenarios. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous on 32-bit platforms where integer overflow conditions have more severe consequences due to limited address space and memory management constraints. The flaw is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow/underflow vulnerability, which represents a common class of memory safety issues in kernel code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to system availability and stability since local users can trigger a denial of service condition that may require system reboot to resolve. The potential for unspecified other impacts exists because memory corruption in kernel space can lead to unpredictable behavior including privilege escalation or information disclosure. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt network services on affected systems, particularly in environments where network management tools are frequently used or where multiple users have access to system resources. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that ethtool is commonly available and used for network configuration and monitoring, making it an attractive target for exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.003 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) categories, though the specific execution path involves kernel-level privilege escalation rather than user-level commands.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2478 primarily focus on kernel version updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should immediately apply the kernel patches released in version 2.6.33.7 or later to address the integer overflow condition. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual ethtool command usage patterns and consider restricting access to ethtool functionality to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in kernel space operations and demonstrates how seemingly benign network management tools can become attack vectors when proper bounds checking is absent. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure components and ensure that all kernel components undergo regular security reviews to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.