CVE-2010-4805 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The socket implementation in net/core/sock.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.35 does not properly manage a backlog of received packets, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by sending a large amount of network traffic, related to the sk_add_backlog function and the sk_rmem_alloc socket field. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-4251.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-4805 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the Linux kernel's networking stack, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.6.35. This flaw resides in the socket implementation layer at net/core/sock.c and fundamentally undermines the kernel's ability to handle incoming network traffic efficiently. The issue manifests when the system encounters a high volume of network packets, causing the kernel to fail in properly managing the packet backlog that accumulates during network processing. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to exploit this weakness from external networks, making it a significant threat to system availability and stability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper management of socket backlog handling through the sk_add_backlog function and the sk_rmem_alloc socket field. When network traffic exceeds the system's capacity to process it immediately, packets are queued in a backlog structure to be handled later. However, the flawed implementation fails to properly account for memory allocation and packet handling in this backlog queue, leading to a situation where the system can become overwhelmed by even moderate amounts of network traffic. This creates a condition where the kernel's memory management becomes corrupted or exhausted, ultimately resulting in system instability and complete denial of service for legitimate network operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4805 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited by remote attackers to systematically crash network services and potentially compromise entire systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication or special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any network attacker who can send packets to the target system. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause the kernel to become unresponsive, leading to complete system hangs or forced reboots that can result in data loss and extended downtime for critical services. This makes it a prime target for distributed denial of service attacks where attackers can leverage multiple systems to overwhelm target networks.
The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2010-4251 demonstrates a pattern of incomplete security fixes where previous attempts to resolve similar issues created new attack vectors or failed to address all aspects of the underlying problem. This incomplete remediation highlights the complexity of kernel security and the difficulty of ensuring comprehensive protection against sophisticated network-based attacks. The flaw affects the fundamental socket layer that all network applications depend upon, making it a critical component that requires immediate attention and patching. Organizations running Linux systems with kernel versions before 2.6.35 should prioritize upgrading to patched versions to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and attack patterns, including CWE-129 which addresses improper handling of buffer boundaries, and relates to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service. The issue demonstrates the importance of thorough vulnerability assessment and the dangers of partial fixes that may leave systems exposed to similar threats. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also maintaining up-to-date security patches to protect against this and related vulnerabilities in the kernel networking stack.