CVE-2012-3364 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the Near Field Communication Controller Interface (NCI) in the Linux kernel before 3.4.5 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via incoming frames with crafted length fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3364 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the Near Field Communication Controller Interface implementation in the Linux kernel. This flaw exists in kernel versions prior to 3.4.5 and affects the NCI subsystem responsible for managing NFC communications between devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation when processing incoming frames, specifically targeting the handling of length fields within these communication packets. The NCI interface serves as a crucial component for NFC device drivers and applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially allow remote attackers to exploit the kernel's NFC subsystem from external sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the kernel's NFC driver code where incoming frames are processed without proper bounds checking on length fields. When an attacker crafts malicious frames with oversized or malformed length values, the kernel's NCI implementation fails to validate these inputs before copying data to fixed-size stack buffers. This classic buffer overflow scenario allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting the instruction pointer or other critical execution context. The vulnerability manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow because the problematic code uses stack-allocated buffers that are insufficiently sized relative to the potentially unbounded input data. This flaw directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader category of buffer overflow vulnerabilities that occur when data is written beyond the boundaries of a stack-allocated buffer.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3364 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution. While the primary effect is a system crash leading to denial of service, the nature of stack-based buffer overflows in kernel space presents a significant risk for privilege escalation attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively compromising the entire system. The remote exploitation capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it does not require physical access or local user privileges to be leveraged. The impact is especially severe in embedded systems and mobile devices that rely heavily on NFC functionality, as these platforms often run vulnerable kernel versions and may not receive timely security updates. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1499, which addresses 'Endpoint Denial of Service', making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams managing Linux-based NFC-enabled systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3364 primarily focus on kernel version updates and input validation improvements. The most effective solution is upgrading to Linux kernel version 3.4.5 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched through proper bounds checking of length fields in incoming NFC frames. System administrators should implement immediate patch management protocols to address this vulnerability across all affected systems, particularly those handling NFC communications. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit NFC communication exposure, disabling NFC functionality when not required, and monitoring for suspicious NFC frame patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The patch for this vulnerability typically involves adding proper validation checks before buffer operations, ensuring that length fields are within acceptable ranges before any data copying occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous NFC traffic patterns and conduct regular security assessments of NFC-enabled devices to prevent exploitation of this and similar kernel-level vulnerabilities.