CVE-2014-6418 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
net/ceph/auth_x.c in Ceph, as used in the Linux kernel before 3.16.3, does not properly validate auth replies, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted data from the IP address of a Ceph Monitor.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-6418 resides within the Ceph storage system's authentication mechanism, specifically in the net/ceph/auth_x.c file of the Linux kernel. This flaw affects versions prior to 3.16.3 and represents a critical security issue that undermines the integrity of the authentication process. Ceph, a distributed storage system designed to provide excellent performance and scalability, relies heavily on proper authentication to maintain system security and stability. The vulnerability manifests in the authentication reply validation process, where the system fails to adequately verify the legitimacy of authentication responses received from Ceph Monitors.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of authentication replies within the Ceph kernel module implementation. When a Ceph client receives authentication data from a monitor, the system does not properly validate the structure or content of these replies before processing them. This validation gap creates an opportunity for malicious actors to craft specially crafted authentication responses that exploit the system's trust in legitimate monitor communications. The vulnerability can be triggered by sending malformed or unexpected data from an IP address that is recognized as a legitimate Ceph Monitor, leveraging the system's assumption that communications from these addresses are trustworthy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, encompassing both availability and potential confidentiality risks. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to cause system crashes and denial of service conditions, effectively rendering the affected Ceph storage systems unusable. Beyond simple denial of service, the vulnerability may enable more sophisticated attacks that could potentially lead to unauthorized access or data manipulation, though the specific details of these additional impacts remain unspecified. The vulnerability affects systems where the Linux kernel version is below 3.16.3, making it particularly relevant for organizations running older kernel versions in their storage infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how insufficient validation of received data can lead to system compromise. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1210, "Exploitation of Remote Services," as it allows remote attackers to exploit a service running on the network. Organizations should prioritize applying the kernel update to version 3.16.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the authentication reply validation flaw. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of Ceph monitor communications can provide additional layers of protection while waiting for the kernel updates to be deployed. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation in security-critical components and highlights the need for robust authentication mechanisms in distributed storage systems.