CVE-2017-18552 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in net/rds/af_rds.c in the Linux kernel before 4.11. There is an out of bounds write and read in the function rds_recv_track_latency.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18552 resides within the Linux kernel's Reliable Datagram Sockets RDS implementation, specifically in the af_rds.c file. This issue affects kernel versions prior to 4.11 and represents a critical security flaw that could enable arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write and read condition within the rds_recv_track_latency function, which operates within the RDS protocol stack designed for high-performance communication between nodes in distributed systems.
The technical flaw occurs when processing incoming RDS packets that contain latency tracking information. The rds_recv_track_latency function fails to properly validate input parameters or bounds checking before writing to memory locations. This allows an attacker to craft malicious RDS packets that can cause the kernel to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions with controlled data. The out-of-bounds read component further amplifies the risk by allowing information disclosure through reading memory locations that should remain inaccessible. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, both classified as critical severity issues in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be exploited to achieve privilege escalation from user-level processes to kernel-level execution. An attacker positioned to send malicious RDS packets to a target system could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernel versions 4.10 and earlier, including various enterprise and embedded systems that rely on RDS for high-performance computing applications. Given that RDS is commonly used in high-performance computing clusters, database systems, and distributed applications, the potential attack surface is significant.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18552 primarily involve upgrading to Linux kernel version 4.11 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure to RDS traffic, disable RDS functionality when not required, and monitor network traffic for suspicious RDS packet patterns. The patch addresses the issue by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the rds_recv_track_latency function, ensuring that memory operations remain within allocated boundaries. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed RDS packets that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-level security in protecting against sophisticated attack vectors targeting system-level primitives.