CVE-2018-6269 in Jetson TX2
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA Jetson TX2 contains a vulnerability in the kernel driver where input/output control (IOCTL) handling for user mode requests could create a non-trusted pointer dereference, which may lead to information disclosure, denial of service, escalation of privileges, or code execution. The updates apply to all versions prior to and including R28.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6269 resides within the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 platform's kernel driver implementation, specifically affecting the handling of input/output control operations. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that impacts the underlying operating system's ability to properly validate user-mode requests. The affected system operates on versions prior to and including R28.3, making a significant portion of deployed jetson devices susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability manifests during IOCTL processing where the kernel driver fails to adequately validate pointer references originating from user space, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate system behavior through carefully crafted requests.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, though in this context it specifically involves non-trusted pointer dereference scenarios. When user-mode applications submit IOCTL requests to the kernel driver, the system processes these commands without sufficient validation of the pointer parameters. This weakness allows for potential manipulation of memory references that should remain under kernel control, creating opportunities for attackers to either extract sensitive kernel memory contents or manipulate kernel data structures. The flaw essentially permits untrusted input to influence kernel memory management operations, bypassing normal security boundaries between user and kernel space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains and potential attack vectors. An attacker exploiting this weakness could achieve information disclosure by reading kernel memory contents that should remain protected, potentially exposing sensitive system data, credentials, or cryptographic keys. The vulnerability also enables denial of service conditions where kernel operations could be disrupted through invalid pointer manipulation, rendering the device unstable or completely non-functional. More critically, the flaw allows for privilege escalation opportunities, enabling attackers to gain elevated system privileges and potentially achieve full system compromise. In the most severe scenarios, the vulnerability could permit arbitrary code execution within kernel space, effectively providing attackers with complete control over the device's operations and data handling capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6269 primarily focus on applying the official NVIDIA security updates that address the kernel driver's IOCTL handling mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of firmware updates released by NVIDIA, particularly those targeting R28.3 and subsequent versions. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous IOCTL activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting access to kernel interfaces through proper access controls and implementing runtime integrity checks for kernel modules. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068 suggests that exploitation attempts should be monitored through process injection and privilege escalation detection mechanisms. Network segmentation and least-privilege access models should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security audits should verify that all kernel components have been properly updated and validated against known vulnerability patterns.