CVE-2014-3181 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the magicmouse_raw_event function in drivers/hid/hid-magicmouse.c in the Magic Mouse HID driver in the Linux kernel through 3.16.3 allow physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted device that provides a large amount of (1) EHCI or (2) XHCI data associated with an event.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3181 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the Linux kernel's Magic Mouse HID driver implementation. This flaw exists in the magicmouse_raw_event function located in drivers/hid/hid-magicmouse.c and affects Linux kernel versions through 3.16.3. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes input events from Magic Mouse devices through either EHCI (Enhanced Host Controller Interface) or XHCI (eXtensible Host Controller Interface) controllers, creating a pathway for malicious input manipulation that can lead to system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a stack-based buffer overflow condition where the magicmouse_raw_event function fails to properly validate input data length before processing EHCI or XHCI data packets. When a crafted device sends excessive data associated with mouse events, the function attempts to store this data in a fixed-size stack buffer without adequate bounds checking. This allows attackers positioned within physical proximity to the target system to craft malicious input sequences that exceed the buffer capacity, resulting in memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent stack variables and potentially execute arbitrary code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Linux systems running affected kernel versions, as it enables both denial of service conditions and potential code execution capabilities. The physical proximity requirement limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, particularly in environments where untrusted devices might be connected to systems. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through kernel-mode code injection and T1499.004 for denial of service through system crash.
The impact of exploitation extends beyond simple system crashes, as the buffer overflow could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges and execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or systems where unauthorized physical access is possible. The affected systems include all Linux distributions using kernel versions 3.16.3 or earlier, making it a widespread concern across various deployment scenarios. Organizations should consider implementing immediate mitigations including kernel updates, disabling unnecessary HID drivers, or employing device access controls to prevent unauthorized device connections that could exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-space drivers and highlights the need for robust memory management practices in embedded device handling code.