CVE-2014-3657 in libvirt
Summary
by MITRE
The virDomainListPopulate function in conf/domain_conf.c in libvirt before 1.2.9 does not clean up the lock on the list of domains, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (deadlock) via a NULL value in the second parameter in the virConnectListAllDomains API command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3657 resides within the libvirt virtualization management library, specifically in the virDomainListPopulate function located in conf/domain_conf.c. This flaw represents a critical race condition and resource management issue that affects libvirt versions prior to 1.2.9, creating a significant security risk for virtualized environments that rely on this foundational component for domain management and orchestration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper resource cleanup within the domain list population mechanism. When the virConnectListAllDomains API command is invoked with a NULL value in its second parameter, the virDomainListPopulate function fails to properly release the lock on the domain list structure. This lock contention scenario creates a deadlock condition where subsequent domain list operations become blocked indefinitely, as the system cannot proceed past the locked resource. The flaw manifests when the function processes the NULL parameter without adequately handling the cleanup routine, leaving the mutex or lock in a held state that prevents other threads from accessing the domain list.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack against libvirt management systems, effectively rendering the virtualization infrastructure unusable. The attack vector requires only a remote connection to the libvirt daemon with appropriate privileges to trigger the condition through the API command interface. Once successfully exploited, the deadlock condition can persist until the libvirt daemon is manually restarted, causing significant service disruption for virtualized environments. This type of attack directly impacts availability and can be particularly devastating in cloud computing environments where multiple virtual machines depend on centralized management services.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-667, which describes improper lock handling in concurrent systems, and represents a classic example of resource leak in multi-threaded applications. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, as attackers can leverage it to disrupt system availability without requiring elevated privileges beyond those needed for API access. The flaw also intersects with TTP-0010 in the context of virtualization attacks, where attackers target management components to gain control over entire virtualized infrastructures. Organizations using libvirt for virtual machine management should prioritize patching this vulnerability, as it can be exploited by attackers with network access to the management interface, potentially affecting large-scale deployments including cloud platforms, container orchestration systems, and enterprise virtualization environments that depend on libvirt for domain lifecycle management and monitoring functions.