CVE-2019-10142 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's freescale hypervisor manager implementation, kernel versions 5.0.x up to, excluding 5.0.17. A parameter passed to an ioctl was incorrectly validated and used in size calculations for the page size calculation. An attacker can use this flaw to crash the system, corrupt memory, or create other adverse security affects.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10142 resides within the Linux kernel's freescale hypervisor manager implementation, representing a critical security flaw that affects kernel versions 5.0.x up to but excluding 5.0.17. This issue manifests in the improper validation of parameters passed to an ioctl function, which subsequently leads to incorrect size calculations during page size determination processes. The flaw operates at the intersection of hypervisor management and kernel-level memory handling, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors with access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the ioctl handler mechanism of the freescale hypervisor manager. When a parameter is passed to the ioctl function, the validation process fails to properly verify the parameter's legitimacy before it is utilized in subsequent calculations. This miscalculation directly impacts the page size computation logic, where the flawed parameter leads to erroneous memory allocation or manipulation. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, specifically targeting the incorrect handling of user-supplied data within kernel space operations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with buffer overflow conditions and memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited to compromise system integrity.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-10142 extends beyond simple system crashes to encompass potential memory corruption and other adverse security consequences that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially cause system instability through controlled crashes, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt normal operations. More critically, the memory corruption aspects of this flaw could enable privilege escalation attacks or provide a foothold for additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in embedded systems and virtualized environments where the freescale hypervisor manager is actively utilized, as these environments often require high levels of system reliability and security. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and system exploitation through kernel-level flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10142 primarily focus on updating to kernel versions 5.0.17 or later, where the parameter validation has been corrected. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running embedded platforms or virtualized environments that utilize the freescale hypervisor manager. Additional protective measures include implementing proper access controls to limit who can interact with the ioctl interface, monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintaining comprehensive system logging to detect potential abuse of the vulnerable interface. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel hardening techniques such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough input validation in kernel-level code and demonstrates how seemingly minor validation flaws can lead to significant security implications across multiple attack vectors.