CVE-2019-0146 in Ethernet 700 Series Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Resource leak in i40e driver for Intel(R) Ethernet 700 Series Controllers versions before 2.8.43 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable a denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2024
The CVE-2019-0146 vulnerability resides within the i40e driver component of Intel(R) Ethernet 700 Series Controllers, representing a critical resource management flaw that can be exploited by authenticated local users to execute denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects driver versions prior to 2.8.43 and demonstrates a classic example of improper resource handling that can cascade into system instability. The issue manifests when the driver fails to properly release allocated resources during certain operational sequences, creating a condition where system resources gradually become consumed until the network interface becomes unavailable.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a resource leak within the driver's memory management routines, where allocated kernel memory structures are not correctly freed when processing specific network packet flows. This flaw typically occurs during the handling of certain interrupt contexts or when processing network traffic under high load conditions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-404, which categorizes improper resource release or cleanup, and represents a direct violation of proper resource management practices that should be enforced by all kernel-level drivers. When exploited, the resource leak can lead to progressive memory exhaustion, ultimately causing the network interface to become unresponsive and requiring system reboot for recovery.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running affected Intel Ethernet controllers, particularly in environments where network availability is critical. The authenticated local access requirement means that an attacker must first gain legitimate user credentials to exploit the vulnerability, but this access level is often sufficient to cause substantial disruption in production environments. The denial of service impact can affect not only the specific network interface but potentially compromise overall system stability, especially in virtualized environments where multiple VMs share the same physical network controller. This vulnerability intersects with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a legitimate concern for security professionals managing enterprise network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-0146 focus primarily on updating to the patched driver version 2.8.43 or later, which resolves the resource leak through proper memory management corrections. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running in mission-critical environments where network availability is paramount. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that track memory usage patterns and network interface health can provide early detection of resource exhaustion symptoms. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper resource management in kernel drivers, as highlighted by industry standards and best practices established in the security community. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of local privilege escalation scenarios that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.