CVE-2015-3284 in OpenAFS
Summary
by MITRE
pioctls in OpenAFS 1.6.x before 1.6.13 allows local users to read kernel memory via crafted commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3284 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the OpenAFS distributed file system implementation. This issue affects OpenAFS versions 1.6.x prior to 1.6.13 and specifically targets the ioctl handling mechanisms within the kernel components. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization in the pioctls function calls, which are used to communicate between user-space applications and kernel-space modules. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious ioctl commands that bypass normal access controls and directly read sensitive kernel memory regions. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to extract confidential information, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, and other sensitive data stored in kernel memory. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure and privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2015-3284 requires local system access, as the vulnerability resides in kernel-level components that are only accessible to processes with appropriate privileges. However, the impact extends beyond simple local privilege escalation since kernel memory reading can expose critical system information that may be used in subsequent attacks. The vulnerability operates through the ioctl interface, which is commonly used for device control operations in Unix-like systems, but the specific implementation in OpenAFS fails to properly validate command parameters and buffer boundaries. This allows attackers to craft malformed ioctl requests that cause the kernel to return arbitrary memory contents to user-space applications. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation', and specifically targets the kernel memory disclosure aspect of system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read condition where the kernel does not properly bounds-check input data before accessing memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on OpenAFS for distributed file services, as it can lead to complete system compromise when exploited by malicious local users. An attacker with local access can potentially extract sensitive information such as encryption keys, authentication tokens, and other confidential data stored in kernel memory, which could then be used to impersonate users or gain further access to network resources. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire OpenAFS deployment, as kernel memory often contains critical system data that should remain protected. Organizations using OpenAFS versions prior to 1.6.13 face significant risk, as this vulnerability can be exploited to undermine the security of distributed authentication and file access controls that OpenAFS is designed to provide. The attack requires minimal privileges but can result in extensive information disclosure and potential privilege escalation to root or administrative levels, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking persistent access to systems. The vulnerability also impacts the availability of the system, as successful exploitation can potentially destabilize kernel components and cause system instability. Security professionals should note that this issue represents a fundamental flaw in the kernel interface implementation that could be leveraged in combination with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack scenarios.
The recommended mitigation for CVE-2015-3284 involves immediate upgrade to OpenAFS version 1.6.13 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the kernel memory reading vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting local user access to systems running OpenAFS, monitoring for suspicious ioctl activity, and ensuring proper privilege separation between user applications and kernel components. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected OpenAFS versions and prioritize patching based on risk exposure. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if local compromise occurs, while regular security monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in kernel modules and serves as a reminder of the critical security implications of flaws in system-level components. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel hardening measures such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel module signing to provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits of kernel interfaces and device drivers should be conducted to identify and remediate potential memory access issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.