CVE-2010-3310 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer signedness errors in net/rose/af_rose.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36-rc5-next-20100923 allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a rose_getname function call, related to the rose_bind and rose_connect functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3310 represents a critical security flaw within the Linux kernel's networking subsystem, specifically within the ROSE (Remote Operations Switching Environment) protocol implementation. This issue manifests as multiple integer signedness errors in the net/rose/af_rose.c file, which is responsible for handling ROSE socket operations. The ROSE protocol is part of the AX.25 packet radio networking stack and is used primarily in amateur radio applications for connecting radio terminals and computers. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions prior to 2.6.36-rc5-next-20100923, making it a significant concern for systems running older kernel versions that may still be in production use.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of signed and unsigned integer comparisons within the rose_getname function, which is invoked during rose_bind and rose_connect operations. When these functions process socket operations, the kernel fails to properly validate the integer values used for memory allocation and buffer sizing, leading to situations where signed integers are treated as unsigned or vice versa. This type of error falls under CWE-194, which specifically addresses the issue of signed integer truncation, and represents a classic example of integer overflow or underflow conditions that can result in memory corruption. The improper integer handling allows attackers to manipulate the size parameters used in heap memory allocation, potentially causing buffer overflows or memory corruption that can lead to system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it provides local users with the ability to either cause a denial of service through heap memory corruption or potentially achieve more serious consequences depending on the specific exploitation scenario. When the kernel processes the malformed integer values, the heap corruption can lead to memory allocation failures, system crashes, or unpredictable behavior that may allow for privilege escalation or information disclosure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only local user access to exploit, meaning any user with access to the system can potentially trigger the condition. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. The denial of service aspect can be leveraged to disrupt network services or cause system-wide instability, particularly in environments where ROSE protocol functionality is actively used for amateur radio communications or specialized networking applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to a patched kernel version, specifically Linux kernel 2.6.36-rc5-next-20100923 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the integer signedness errors. System administrators should prioritize this upgrade, especially in environments where the ROSE protocol is actively used or where systems may be exposed to untrusted local users. Additionally, organizations should implement proper access controls to limit local user privileges and monitor for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough input validation and proper integer handling in kernel space code, as these types of errors can have cascading effects on system stability and security. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures should also be considered to minimize the potential impact of such local privilege escalation vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should focus on detecting abnormal memory allocation patterns and system crashes that might indicate heap corruption from this specific vulnerability.