CVE-2016-4565 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
The InfiniBand (aka IB) stack in the Linux kernel before 4.5.3 incorrectly relies on the write system call, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (kernel memory write operation) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a uAPI interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4565 represents a critical flaw in the Linux kernel's InfiniBand implementation that affects systems running kernel versions prior to 4.5.3. This issue resides within the kernel's networking subsystem and specifically impacts the InfiniBand communication stack that facilitates high-performance computing environments. The vulnerability stems from improper validation mechanisms within the kernel's user API interface, creating a path for malicious local users to exploit the system through crafted write operations. The InfiniBand protocol is widely utilized in data centers and high-performance computing clusters for low-latency, high-throughput network communications between servers, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely on these technologies.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the kernel's reliance on the write system call without proper input validation and bounds checking within the InfiniBand subsystem. When local users interact with the uAPI interface through the InfiniBand stack, they can manipulate the write operations to trigger unexpected behavior in kernel memory management. This flaw allows attackers to perform unauthorized memory write operations that can corrupt kernel data structures or cause system instability. The vulnerability specifically affects the kernel's handling of user-space to kernel-space data transfers, where the write system call is used to communicate with the InfiniBand drivers. The improper validation means that malicious inputs can bypass normal kernel security checks and directly influence kernel memory operations, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4565 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability could enable local privilege escalation or more severe system compromise. Attackers with local access can leverage this weakness to disrupt critical services running on InfiniBand-enabled systems, particularly affecting high-performance computing clusters, database servers, and network infrastructure components that depend on reliable InfiniBand connectivity. The vulnerability affects systems where InfiniBand hardware is present and the kernel's InfiniBand stack is active, which includes many enterprise data center environments and supercomputing facilities. Organizations using virtualized environments or containerized applications that rely on InfiniBand for inter-VM communication are also at risk, as local attackers within these environments can exploit the vulnerability to gain elevated privileges or cause service interruptions that impact entire clusters.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with improper input validation issues that can lead to memory corruption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and denial of service tactics, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within systems or disrupt critical infrastructure services. The remediation strategy focuses on upgrading to kernel versions 4.5.3 or later where the InfiniBand stack properly validates inputs and implements correct bounds checking for write operations. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly in high-value environments such as financial services, government agencies, and research institutions that utilize high-performance computing clusters. Additional mitigations include implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges, monitoring for unusual kernel memory operations, and ensuring that InfiniBand interfaces are properly secured in multi-tenant environments where local access cannot be fully trusted. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous write operations targeting kernel memory spaces.