CVE-2013-2895 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
drivers/hid/hid-logitech-dj.c in the Human Interface Device (HID) subsystem in the Linux kernel through 3.11, when CONFIG_HID_LOGITECH_DJ is enabled, allows physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and OOPS) or obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a crafted device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2895 resides within the Linux kernel's Human Interface Device subsystem, specifically in the driver responsible for handling Logitech Unifying Receiver devices. This flaw affects kernel versions through 3.11 and manifests when the CONFIG_HID_LOGITECH_DJ configuration option is enabled, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited by attackers with physical proximity to target systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the hid-logitech-dj.c driver component, which fails to properly sanitize device communication data received from Logitech Unifying Receiver devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the driver processes malformed device reports from specially crafted Logitech devices. When a maliciously constructed device connects to a system with the vulnerable kernel configuration, the driver attempts to access a NULL pointer during the device initialization or data processing phase, resulting in a kernel OOPS condition that ultimately leads to system denial of service. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference flaws in software implementations, representing a classic kernel-level memory safety issue.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems that rely on Logitech Unifying Receivers for keyboard and mouse input devices, particularly in environments where physical security is compromised. Attackers can exploit this weakness to either crash target systems through denial of service attacks or potentially extract sensitive kernel memory information through the improper memory access patterns. The attack vector requires only physical proximity to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in shared office environments, public computing spaces, or any scenario where unauthorized physical access to computing devices is possible. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes as the potential for information disclosure creates additional security implications for systems handling sensitive data.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate kernel updates to versions containing the patched HID subsystem code, which addresses the NULL pointer dereference through proper input validation and device state checking. System administrators should also consider disabling the CONFIG_HID_LOGITECH_DJ kernel configuration option if Logitech Unifying Receivers are not actively required, effectively preventing the vulnerable driver from loading. Additionally, implementing physical security measures such as restricting unauthorized access to computing devices and monitoring for unusual device connection patterns can provide additional layers of protection. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as the exploitation involves manipulating device communication protocols to trigger kernel-level faults. Organizations should also consider deploying kernel hardening techniques and monitoring for suspicious kernel OOPS events that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper device driver validation and input sanitization in kernel space operations, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing of device drivers in operating system kernels.