CVE-2014-3952 in FreeBSD
Summary
by MITRE
FreeBSD 8.4 before p14, 9.1 before p17, 9.2 before p10, and 10.0 before p7 does not properly initialize the buffer between the header and data of a control message, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2022
This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of the FreeBSD operating system where kernel memory is not properly initialized when creating control messages for socket operations. The flaw occurs in the buffer management between the header and data sections of control message structures, creating a potential information disclosure risk that affects systems running FreeBSD 8.4 before patch level 14, 9.1 before patch level 17, 9.2 before patch level 10, and 10.0 before patch level 7. The improper initialization means that sensitive kernel memory contents may be exposed to local users through unspecified vectors during socket communication operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory initialization practices within the kernel's socket control message handling code. When control messages are constructed for network operations, the memory buffer area between the header and data components is not properly cleared or initialized, leaving remnants of previous kernel operations in memory accessible to user-space processes. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-1175 category of improper initialization of data structures and is particularly dangerous because it allows local privilege escalation through information gathering rather than direct code execution. The vulnerability represents a classic case of uninitialized memory exposure that can be exploited to gain insights into kernel memory layout and potentially sensitive data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to FreeBSD systems as it enables local users to extract potentially sensitive information from kernel memory through control message operations. Attackers could leverage this information to understand kernel memory structures, potentially aiding in more sophisticated attacks such as kernel exploitation or privilege escalation attempts. The impact is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where local users might attempt to gather information about system internals to plan further attacks. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it difficult to detect through standard user-space monitoring mechanisms and requiring careful system hardening approaches.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves applying the appropriate FreeBSD patches that address the memory initialization issue in control message handling. System administrators should update to the patched versions of FreeBSD that include the necessary kernel modifications to properly initialize the buffer areas between control message headers and data. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and limiting local user privileges can reduce the potential impact of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious socket operations and implementing kernel hardening measures such as stack canaries and memory protection mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and represents a foundational weakness that could enable more advanced attack vectors if not properly addressed.