CVE-2012-2192 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
The socketpair function in IBM AIX 5.3, 6.1, and 7.1 and VIOS 2.2.1.4-FP-25 SP-02 allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a crafted application that leverages the presence of a socket on the free list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2192 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting IBM AIX operating systems across multiple versions including 5.3, 6.1, and 7.1 along with VIOS 2.2.1.4-FP-25 SP-02. This issue stems from improper handling within the socketpair function, which is a fundamental system call used to create bidirectional socket communication channels. The flaw specifically manifests when a malicious local application exploits the presence of sockets that have been placed on the system's free list, a memory management construct used to track available socket resources. This vulnerability operates at the kernel level and demonstrates a classic case of improper resource management that can lead to system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the socketpair function's failure to properly validate socket state when processing socket objects that are in the free list. When a crafted application creates socket pairs and manipulates the socket allocation system, it can trigger a condition where the kernel's socket management subsystem encounters corrupted or improperly managed socket structures. This mismanagement causes the kernel to attempt operations on invalid socket references, ultimately leading to a system crash or complete denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only local user privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any user with system access. From a cybersecurity perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a memory corruption vulnerability that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2192 extends beyond simple denial of service, as system crashes can result in significant business disruption, data loss, and potential security implications. Organizations running affected IBM AIX systems face the risk of unexpected system downtime, especially in mission-critical environments where availability is paramount. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur through legitimate system administration tools or malicious applications, making detection challenging. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks, though in this case the attack vector is local rather than network-based. The vulnerability's presence on multiple AIX versions indicates a systemic issue in the kernel's socket management implementation that requires comprehensive patching across affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2192 should prioritize immediate patch application from IBM, which addresses the underlying socket management flaw in the kernel's socketpair implementation. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual socket allocation patterns or potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on local process behavior that might indicate malicious socket manipulation. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of exploitation, while regular system auditing should verify that no unauthorized applications are creating socket pairs in potentially vulnerable ways. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected AIX versions and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing kernel-level denial of service attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper resource management in kernel space and demonstrates why maintaining current system patches is critical for preventing exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.