CVE-2014-6416 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
Buffer overflow in net/ceph/auth_x.c in Ceph, as used in the Linux kernel before 3.16.3, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and panic) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a long unencrypted auth ticket.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6416 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Ceph distributed storage system's authentication mechanism. This flaw exists in the net/ceph/auth_x.c component of the Linux kernel, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.16.3. The issue manifests when the system processes authentication tickets that are transmitted without encryption, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities. The Ceph storage system, widely deployed in enterprise environments and cloud infrastructures, relies on this authentication mechanism to establish trust between storage nodes and clients, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations dependent on distributed storage solutions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the authentication ticket processing code. When a remote attacker submits a malformed authentication ticket containing excessive data beyond the allocated buffer space, the system fails to properly bounds-check the input before copying it into memory. This classic buffer overflow condition results in memory corruption that can trigger kernel panic conditions, effectively causing system crashes and complete service disruption. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the memory corruption could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks, though the exact nature of these secondary impacts remains unspecified in the original vulnerability report. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly severe since it can compromise the entire system's integrity and stability.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6416 poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Ceph storage clusters, particularly those in high-availability environments where system uptime is critical. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can cause unexpected system crashes, leading to data unavailability and potential loss of service for applications relying on the affected storage infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network proximity to cause damage, making it particularly concerning for distributed storage deployments. Organizations with large-scale Ceph implementations face the risk of cascading failures across their storage networks, potentially affecting multiple nodes simultaneously. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and system integrity, as it allows unauthorized users to manipulate kernel memory structures that should remain protected from external influence.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to kernel versions 3.16.3 or later where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Ceph services to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface. The implementation of monitoring solutions to detect anomalous authentication ticket sizes or patterns can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider enabling encryption for authentication communications to prevent attackers from exploiting this specific vulnerability, as the issue only affects unencrypted tickets. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant concern for organizations following security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes the importance of input validation and memory safety controls. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures including kernel hardening and network-based intrusion detection systems to prevent exploitation.