CVE-2019-19059 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory leaks in the iwl_pcie_ctxt_info_gen3_init() function in drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/pcie/ctxt-info-gen3.c in the Linux kernel through 5.3.11 allow attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by triggering iwl_pcie_init_fw_sec() or dma_alloc_coherent() failures, aka CID-0f4f199443fa.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19059 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Linux kernel's wireless networking subsystem, specifically affecting Intel iwlwifi drivers. This issue resides in the iwl_pcie_ctxt_info_gen3_init() function located in drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/pcie/ctxt-info-gen3.c, where multiple memory leaks occur during the initialization process of wireless network adapters. The flaw affects kernel versions through 5.3.11, making it a widespread concern across numerous Linux distributions that rely on Intel wireless hardware for network connectivity. The vulnerability manifests when attackers can trigger failures in either iwl_pcie_init_fw_sec() or dma_alloc_coherent() functions, creating conditions that lead to sustained memory consumption and eventual system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory deallocation within the wireless driver initialization sequence, where allocated memory blocks are not properly freed when error conditions occur during firmware loading or DMA allocation processes. This memory leak pattern creates a gradual degradation of system resources as the wireless subsystem attempts to initialize repeatedly, with each failed initialization cycle consuming additional memory without proper cleanup. The CWE-401 classification applies here as the vulnerability represents a classic memory leak scenario where the system fails to release allocated memory resources, leading to resource exhaustion over time. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system stability regardless of user privileges or network access conditions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform denial of service attacks against systems running affected kernel versions by repeatedly triggering the memory leak conditions. The sustained memory consumption can eventually lead to system slowdowns, application crashes, or complete system hang situations where available memory becomes exhausted. This vulnerability particularly affects servers, embedded systems, and devices with limited memory resources, where the memory leak can quickly escalate into a complete system failure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, as it allows adversaries to consume system resources and potentially disrupt network services. The vulnerability is especially concerning in enterprise environments where wireless connectivity is critical for operations, as it can lead to unplanned service interruptions and increased maintenance overhead.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-19059 should focus on immediate kernel updates to versions that contain the patched implementation of the iwlwifi driver functions. System administrators should prioritize applying security patches from their respective distribution vendors, as the fix typically involves proper memory cleanup routines that ensure allocated resources are released even when error conditions occur during driver initialization. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments with high wireless activity. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit potential attack surfaces by restricting unauthorized access to systems that might trigger the vulnerable code paths. Additionally, regular security assessments of wireless infrastructure components should be conducted to identify and remediate similar memory management issues that might exist in other kernel subsystems or third-party drivers.