CVE-2013-0309 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
arch/x86/include/asm/pgtable.h in the Linux kernel before 3.6.2, when transparent huge pages are used, does not properly support PROT_NONE memory regions, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-0309 represents a critical flaw in the Linux kernel's memory management subsystem that specifically affects systems utilizing transparent huge pages functionality. This issue resides within the x86 architecture-specific page table implementation located in arch/x86/include/asm/pgtable.h, where the kernel fails to properly handle memory regions marked with PROT_NONE protection flags. The vulnerability emerged in Linux kernel versions prior to 3.6.2 and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation gaps in memory management can lead to system-wide stability issues.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of memory protection attributes when transparent huge pages are enabled. When applications attempt to map memory regions with PROT_NONE protection using transparent huge page mechanisms, the kernel's page table management code fails to correctly process these specific memory access control configurations. This misconfiguration creates a condition where the kernel's memory management subsystem cannot properly handle page table entries for these protected regions, leading to potential kernel panics and system crashes. The flaw specifically manifests when the kernel attempts to manipulate page table entries that correspond to memory regions with no access permissions, a scenario that occurs during certain memory mapping operations in applications that utilize memory protection features.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can result in complete system instability and potential data loss. Local attackers with access to the system can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that specifically target the transparent huge page memory management pathways. The resulting system crashes can be particularly disruptive in production environments where kernel stability is paramount, as they can lead to unexpected service interruptions and require system rebooting. This vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernel versions 3.6.1 and earlier, making it relevant to a substantial portion of legacy systems and embedded platforms that may not have received timely kernel updates.
Systems implementing transparent huge pages for performance optimization are particularly at risk from this vulnerability, as the feature is designed to improve memory management efficiency but inadvertently exposes this memory protection flaw. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119 Improper Access to Memory and CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, as it involves improper memory access control and page table manipulation that can lead to kernel-level instability. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local system vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, though in this case the primary impact is denial of service rather than privilege elevation. Organizations should prioritize updating their kernel versions to 3.6.2 or later, as this patch resolves the improper memory protection handling in the page table management code, ensuring that PROT_NONE regions are correctly processed without causing kernel panics. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for applications that heavily utilize transparent huge pages and consider implementing kernel lockdown mechanisms to limit potential exploitation vectors while updates are deployed.