CVE-2010-3442 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in the snd_ctl_new function in sound/core/control.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36-rc5-next-20100929 allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted (1) SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_ADD or (2) SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_REPLACE ioctl call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3442 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Linux kernel's sound subsystem, specifically affecting the snd_ctl_new function located in sound/core/control.c. This vulnerability exists in kernel versions prior to 2.6.36-rc5-next-20100929 and poses significant security risks to systems utilizing the Linux audio infrastructure. The flaw manifests through improper input validation during ioctl operations, particularly when processing SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_ADD and SNDRV_CTL_IOCTL_ELEM_REPLACE commands that are used to manage audio control elements within the kernel's sound framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking in the snd_ctl_new function where integer overflows occur when handling user-supplied parameters during control element creation. When local users submit crafted ioctl calls with maliciously constructed parameters, the kernel's integer arithmetic operations can overflow, leading to heap memory corruption. This occurs because the kernel fails to properly validate the size parameters associated with audio control elements before allocating memory, allowing attackers to manipulate the allocation process through carefully crafted input values that exceed the expected integer limits. The vulnerability falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privileges to gain system-level access through kernel vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the system configuration and available privileges. Local attackers who can execute code with sufficient permissions can leverage this flaw to corrupt heap memory structures, potentially leading to system crashes, unexpected behavior, or in some cases, privilege escalation opportunities. The heap corruption aspect makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can destabilize the kernel's memory management system, affecting the stability of audio subsystem operations and potentially impacting other kernel components that rely on proper memory allocation. Systems running vulnerable kernel versions are susceptible to complete service disruption through simple ioctl calls, making this a high-priority vulnerability for system administrators to address immediately.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3442 primarily focus on upgrading to kernel versions 2.6.36-rc5-next-20100929 or later where the integer overflow protections have been implemented. System administrators should prioritize kernel updates across all production environments, particularly those hosting audio-intensive applications or systems where audio control functionality is critical. Additional protective measures include implementing proper input validation at application levels that interact with audio control interfaces, monitoring for unusual ioctl activity patterns, and maintaining up-to-date security patches for all kernel components. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation mechanisms to limit the potential impact of local users who might attempt to exploit this vulnerability, as the attack vector requires local execution capabilities but can result in system-wide stability issues. The fix implemented in the patched kernel versions specifically addresses the integer overflow conditions by adding proper bounds checking and validation mechanisms to ensure that memory allocation parameters remain within safe integer limits before any heap allocation occurs.