CVE-2014-5332 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in NVMap in NVIDIA Tegra Linux Kernel 3.10 alllows local users to gain privileges via a crafted NVMAP_IOC_CREATE IOCTL call, which triggers a use-after-free error, as demonstrated by using a race condition to escape the Chrome sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5332 represents a critical race condition within the NVMap subsystem of NVIDIA's Tegra Linux kernel version 3.10. This flaw exists in the kernel's memory management component responsible for handling NVIDIA's GPU memory allocation and management. The vulnerability specifically affects systems utilizing NVIDIA Tegra processors running the affected kernel version, creating a significant security risk for devices that rely on this hardware platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted NVMAP_IOC_CREATE ioctl call that triggers a use-after-free condition within the kernel's memory management subsystem. The race condition manifests when multiple threads or processes attempt to access the same memory resource simultaneously, creating a window where memory that has been freed becomes accessible again before proper cleanup occurs. This particular flaw enables local attackers to manipulate the kernel's memory management functions in a way that can be leveraged for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5332 extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as demonstrated by its exploitation in bypassing the Chrome sandbox mechanism. This vulnerability allows attackers to escape application isolation boundaries and gain elevated system privileges, effectively undermining the security model designed to protect users from malicious code execution. The use-after-free condition creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate kernel memory structures to inject and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in software development, and the ATT&CK framework categorizes this as privilege escalation through kernel exploitation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local access to the system but can result in complete system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local user access is possible. Mitigation strategies include applying the latest kernel updates from NVIDIA, implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges, and monitoring for suspicious kernel memory access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel module whitelisting and runtime protection mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper synchronization mechanisms in kernel space code and demonstrates how seemingly minor race condition flaws can result in significant security implications.