CVE-2010-5331 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
In the Linux kernel before 2.6.34, a range check issue in drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/atombios.c could cause an off by one (buffer overflow) problem.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5331 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Linux kernel's graphics driver subsystem, specifically affecting the radeon graphics driver implementation. This flaw exists in kernel versions prior to 2.6.34 and stems from an inadequate range check mechanism within the atom bios parsing code. The issue manifests in the drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/atombios.c file where the kernel fails to properly validate array bounds during the processing of atom bios data structures, creating a scenario where a malicious actor could manipulate input data to trigger memory corruption.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index values, and specifically demonstrates an off-by-one error that occurs when the kernel attempts to process graphics firmware data. The flaw occurs during the parsing of ATOM BIOS data structures used by Radeon graphics hardware, where insufficient boundary checking allows an attacker to provide crafted input that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This condition creates a predictable memory corruption pattern that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within kernel space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to systems utilizing Radeon graphics hardware running vulnerable kernel versions. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it operates at kernel level where successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, privilege escalation, and persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges to exploit and can be triggered through normal graphics driver operations, making it an attractive target for both automated attacks and targeted exploitation campaigns. Systems with older kernel versions are especially vulnerable as they lack the mitigations introduced in kernel 2.6.34 and subsequent releases.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5331 primarily focus on kernel version upgrades to 2.6.34 or later, which contain the necessary patches addressing the range check implementation. Additionally, system administrators should implement proper patch management procedures to ensure all graphics driver components remain up to date. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation in kernel space drivers, particularly for graphics subsystems that process firmware data from external sources. Organizations should consider implementing runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization and stack canaries to reduce exploit reliability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and kernel exploitation methods, specifically targeting the T1055.013 sub-technique for kernel exploits and T1543.003 for privilege escalation through kernel modules. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign driver functionality can become a critical security weakness when proper bounds checking is absent, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of kernel subsystems.