CVE-2012-3552 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in the IP implementation in the Linux kernel before 3.0 might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (slab corruption and system crash) by sending packets to an application that sets socket options during the handling of network traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3552 represents a critical race condition within the Linux kernel's IP implementation that existed prior to version 3.0. This flaw manifests as a concurrency issue that can be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system stability through carefully crafted network packets. The vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between socket option handling and packet processing within the kernel's networking subsystem, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate system memory structures.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms during the processing of network packets and socket option modifications. When an application sets socket options while simultaneously handling incoming network traffic, the kernel's IP implementation fails to properly coordinate these concurrent operations. This race condition occurs in the slab allocator subsystem where memory chunks are managed for network packet processing, leading to potential memory corruption when multiple threads attempt to modify the same data structures simultaneously. The flaw is categorized under CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in software implementations, making it a prime example of improper synchronization in kernel space operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3552 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially catastrophic system crashes and memory corruption. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted packets to applications that are actively processing network traffic while simultaneously modifying socket options. This exploitation pattern can lead to slab corruption, where kernel memory structures become inconsistent and eventually cause system crashes. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernel versions earlier than 3.0, making it particularly dangerous for legacy deployments and enterprise environments that have not yet upgraded their kernel versions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local privileges and can be executed entirely over the network, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems with kernel versions 3.0 or later, as this represents the most effective mitigation for CVE-2012-3552. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper synchronization in kernel-level code and highlights the risks associated with race conditions in operating system implementations. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular kernel update schedules to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting their infrastructure. The flaw serves as a reminder of the necessity for comprehensive testing of concurrent operations in kernel space and proper adherence to security best practices in system development.