CVE-2013-4544 in QEMU
Summary
by MITRE
hw/net/vmxnet3.c in QEMU 2.0.0-rc0, 1.7.1, and earlier allows local guest users to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to (1) RX or (2) TX queue numbers or (3) interrupt indices. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4544 affects the vmxnet3 network driver implementation within QEMU virtualization software versions 2.0.0-rc0, 1.7.1, and earlier. This issue resides in the hw/net/vmxnet3.c file which handles the virtualized vmxnet3 network interface controller functionality. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables local guest users to exploit the virtualized network interface, potentially leading to system instability or unauthorized code execution within the virtualized environment. The flaw specifically targets the handling of network queue management and interrupt processing mechanisms that are fundamental to virtualized network operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and boundary checking within the vmxnet3 driver's queue management logic. When guest operating systems interact with the virtualized network interface, they can manipulate RX (receive) and TX (transmit) queue numbers or interrupt indices through malformed or malicious network packets. These improper validations allow attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries or manipulate internal data structures that control network queue operations. The vulnerability manifests when the virtualized network driver fails to properly validate queue indices and interrupt assignments, leading to memory corruption that can result in system crashes or potentially arbitrary code execution within the hypervisor context. This type of flaw typically maps to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4544 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios as it can potentially enable privilege escalation within virtualized environments. Local guest users who have access to the virtual machine can leverage this vulnerability to either crash the entire virtual machine or, in more severe cases, execute arbitrary code on the host system. This creates a significant risk for multi-tenant cloud environments where guest isolation is paramount for security. The vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks that do not require network access to the host system, making it particularly dangerous in cloud computing scenarios. Attackers can leverage this flaw to compromise the integrity of the virtualized environment, potentially leading to data breaches or further attacks on other virtual machines running on the same host.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4544 primarily focus on immediate software updates and virtualization environment hardening. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to QEMU versions that contain patches addressing this vulnerability, typically those released after the initial vulnerability disclosure. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit guest user privileges and reduce the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns related to queue manipulation or interrupt handling can help detect exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter techniques, as attackers may use the vulnerability to execute commands within the virtualized environment. Implementing virtualization-specific security controls and regularly auditing virtual machine configurations can further reduce the risk of exploitation, while maintaining up-to-date security patches across all virtualization components remains the most effective defense mechanism.