CVE-2013-3234 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The rose_recvmsg function in net/rose/af_rose.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3234 resides within the Linux kernel's ROSE (Rose Packet Radio Encapsulation) protocol implementation, specifically in the rose_recvmsg function located in net/rose/af_rose.c. This flaw represents a classic case of information disclosure through improper initialization of kernel data structures. The ROSE protocol is used for packet radio communications and is part of the Linux kernel's networking stack that supports various legacy communication protocols. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions prior to 3.9-rc7, making it a significant concern for systems running older kernel versions that may still be in production use.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the rose_recvmsg function failing to properly initialize a data structure before utilizing it in network communication operations. When a local user executes a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call, the function processes the incoming data without ensuring that all memory locations within the uninitialized structure are properly cleared. This oversight allows the kernel to return uninitialized memory contents from the stack to the user-space application, effectively leaking sensitive information that may have been previously stored in that memory location. The vulnerability is classified as a local information disclosure issue since it requires local system access to exploit, but the implications are severe as it can expose kernel memory contents including potentially sensitive data, cryptographic keys, or system configuration details that were previously stored in the stack memory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious risk to systems running affected kernel versions as it allows local attackers to extract confidential information from kernel memory spaces. The leaked information could potentially include cryptographic keys, passwords, system configuration details, or other sensitive data that was previously stored in the kernel stack. This type of information disclosure can serve as a stepping stone for further attacks, potentially enabling privilege escalation or other malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where sensitive data is often stored, and the attack vector requires only local access which is often easier to achieve than remote exploitation methods. Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under CWE-1284, which specifically addresses the issue of uninitialized memory access in kernel space operations.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, which involves data from local system storage, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution. While the vulnerability itself is a kernel-level information disclosure, it can be leveraged by attackers to gain additional system intelligence that may be used to plan more sophisticated attacks. The fact that this vulnerability affects the ROSE protocol implementation means that systems specifically configured to use packet radio communications or those that have the ROSE protocol support compiled into their kernel are at risk. Organizations should consider the broader implications of this vulnerability as it may expose information that could aid in targeted attacks against the system or network infrastructure. The remediation approach requires updating to kernel versions 3.9-rc7 or later where the uninitialized memory issue has been addressed through proper data structure initialization.
The fix implemented in kernel versions 3.9-rc7 and later involves ensuring that the data structure used in the rose_recvmsg function is properly initialized before being populated with data from network operations. This approach follows standard security practices for kernel development where all memory allocations and data structures must be properly initialized to prevent information leakage. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in kernel space operations and highlights the potential consequences of overlooking seemingly minor initialization steps in security-critical code. System administrators should prioritize updating affected systems to mitigate this risk, particularly in environments where local access may be compromised or where the systems handle sensitive data that could be exposed through this information disclosure mechanism. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough code review processes and security testing in kernel development to prevent such memory-related issues that can have far-reaching consequences for system security and integrity.