CVE-2012-2320 in ConnMan
Summary
by MITRE
ConnMan before 0.85 does not ensure that netlink messages originate from the kernel, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and cause a denial of service via a crafted netlink message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2320 affects ConnMan versions prior to 085, representing a critical security flaw in the connection manager daemon that governs network connectivity on Linux systems. This issue resides in the network management component responsible for handling netlink communications, which are essential for kernel-user space interactions in network configuration and monitoring. The flaw specifically manifests in the daemon's failure to authenticate the source of netlink messages, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's network management capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from ConnMan's insufficient validation mechanisms for netlink message origins. Netlink sockets serve as the primary communication channel between kernel space and user space processes in Linux systems, facilitating essential network configuration operations. When ConnMan processes netlink messages without verifying their kernel-based origin, it accepts potentially malicious messages that appear to originate from the kernel but are actually crafted by unauthorized parties. This lack of source validation creates a fundamental security weakness that violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack against systems running vulnerable ConnMan versions. The attacker can craft specially formatted netlink messages that, when processed by the daemon, trigger system instability or complete service disruption. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the vulnerability allows bypassing intended access restrictions, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks that could compromise network connectivity and system availability. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where continuous network access is critical for system operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," as it allows attackers to manipulate system processes through malformed inputs. The flaw also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1499, "Endpoint Denial of Service," demonstrating how improper message validation can lead to service disruption. Organizations utilizing ConnMan for network management should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates to 0.85 or later, which implement proper netlink message origin verification. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, monitoring for anomalous netlink traffic patterns, and ensuring proper access controls on network management interfaces. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper kernel-user space communication validation and highlights the critical need for robust input sanitization in system-level components that handle privileged operations.