CVE-2010-3067 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the do_io_submit function in fs/aio.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36-rc4-next-20100915 allows local users to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted use of the io_submit system call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3067 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Linux kernel's asynchronous I/O subsystem, specifically affecting the do_io_submit function in the fs/aio.c file. This issue exists in kernel versions prior to 2.6.36-rc4-next-20100915 and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to severe system instability. The vulnerability manifests when local users exploit crafted usage of the io_submit system call, which is designed to submit asynchronous I/O operations to the kernel's AIO framework. The integer overflow occurs during the processing of I/O submission parameters, creating a condition where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for the integer data type, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating the parameters passed to the io_submit system call in a manner that triggers the integer overflow condition within the do_io_submit function. When the kernel processes these malformed parameters, the overflow can cause memory corruption or invalid memory access patterns that may result in kernel panic, system crashes, or potentially allow privilege escalation. This flaw falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is classified as a fundamental programming error that occurs when an integer value exceeds its maximum capacity and wraps around to a much smaller value. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it allows local users to potentially cause denial of service conditions that could affect system availability and stability, while the unspecified other impacts suggest potential for more severe consequences including privilege escalation or information disclosure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems running affected kernel versions, particularly those that rely heavily on asynchronous I/O operations for performance-critical applications. The local nature of the exploit means that any user with access to the system can potentially trigger the vulnerability, making it a serious concern for multi-user environments where privilege separation is not strictly enforced. The denial of service impact can result in complete system unavailability, requiring manual intervention and system restarts to restore normal operations. Organizations using Linux systems in production environments must consider the potential for this vulnerability to be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised local accounts, as the attack surface is relatively broad and the exploitation requires minimal privileges. The vulnerability also impacts various system services and applications that depend on AIO functionality, potentially affecting database servers, web servers, and other performance-critical applications that utilize asynchronous I/O for handling concurrent operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3067 primarily focus on kernel version upgrades to 2.6.36-rc4-next-20100915 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the integer overflow condition in the do_io_submit function. System administrators should prioritize applying security updates and patches from trusted sources, particularly in environments where local user access cannot be strictly controlled. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that detect unusual patterns in system call usage, particularly around io_submit operations, can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) indicates that it can be leveraged as part of broader attack strategies targeting system stability and access control. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege principles and restricting local user access to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The fix implemented in patched kernel versions typically involves adding proper input validation and bounds checking to prevent integer overflow conditions during I/O submission parameter processing, ensuring that arithmetic operations remain within safe integer ranges and preventing the wraparound behavior that leads to memory corruption.