CVE-2013-4514 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in drivers/staging/wlags49_h2/wl_priv.c in the Linux kernel before 3.12 allow local users to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability and providing a long station-name string, related to the (1) wvlan_uil_put_info and (2) wvlan_set_station_nickname functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4514 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Linux kernel's wireless networking subsystem, specifically affecting drivers in the staging directory. This flaw exists in the wl_priv.c file of the wlags49_h2 driver module, which handles wireless local area network operations for certain legacy hardware implementations. The vulnerability manifests when the kernel processes station name information through two distinct functions: wvlan_uil_put_info and wvlan_set_station_nickname, both of which fail to properly validate input string lengths before copying data into fixed-size buffers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the wireless driver implementation, creating conditions where a malicious user with the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability can trigger buffer overflows by supplying excessively long station-name strings. This capability represents a significant privilege level within the Linux security model, typically granted to network administration processes and programs requiring advanced network control. The buffer overflow occurs because the driver functions do not enforce maximum length limits on input data, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions with arbitrary data. This memory corruption can potentially lead to kernel crashes, system instability, or in more sophisticated attack scenarios, arbitrary code execution within kernel space.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4514 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the vulnerability could potentially enable privilege escalation attacks when combined with other exploitation techniques. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can cause system-wide crashes that disrupt wireless networking services, affecting both desktop and server environments where wireless connectivity is critical. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 indicates it involves stack-based buffer overflow conditions, while its relationship to the Linux kernel's wireless subsystem places it within the broader category of device driver vulnerabilities that can compromise system integrity. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through kernel exploitation, as the vulnerability requires elevated privileges but can potentially be used to gain further control over system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4514 focus primarily on kernel version updates, as the vulnerability was resolved in Linux kernel versions 3.12 and later through proper input validation and buffer size enforcement. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing network access controls to limit which processes can obtain CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual wireless network activity patterns and implementing proper privilege separation for network administration tasks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in kernel drivers and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in device-specific implementations can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in legacy network drivers.