CVE-2022-0854 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 03/24/2022
A memory leak flaw was found in the Linux kernel’s DMA subsystem, in the way a user calls DMA_FROM_DEVICE. This flaw allows a local user to read random memory from the kernel space.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0854 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Linux kernel's Direct Memory Access subsystem that fundamentally compromises system security through improper memory handling during device communication operations. This issue specifically manifests when user-space applications invoke the DMA_FROM_DEVICE functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized memory access that could potentially expose sensitive kernel data to local attackers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper memory management practices within the kernel's DMA subsystem where insufficient validation occurs during the DMA_FROM_DEVICE call sequence. When a user process requests DMA operations from device drivers, the kernel fails to properly sanitize memory references, allowing for potential information disclosure through memory leaks that can be exploited to read arbitrary kernel memory locations. This flaw operates at the kernel level and requires local system access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privilege escalation is possible.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0854 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gather sensitive kernel memory contents including cryptographic keys, passwords, and other confidential system data that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The vulnerability enables a local attacker to potentially read random kernel memory addresses, which could reveal critical system information such as memory layout details, kernel function pointers, or other sensitive data structures that might aid in more sophisticated attacks. This memory leak vulnerability directly violates the fundamental security principle of kernel memory isolation and can be categorized under CWE-476 which addresses NULL pointer dereference issues in kernel contexts.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as local users can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to kernel memory and potentially escalate their privileges. The attack surface is particularly concerning in multi-tenant environments or systems where untrusted users might have local access, as this vulnerability could be exploited to extract sensitive information from kernel memory spaces that are normally protected from user-space access.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0854 include immediate patching of affected kernel versions, implementing proper memory validation checks in DMA operations, and monitoring for unauthorized memory access patterns. System administrators should prioritize updating to kernel versions that contain the patched implementation of the DMA subsystem, as the vulnerability affects multiple kernel versions and requires specific code-level fixes to address the improper memory handling during DMA_FROM_DEVICE calls. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing memory access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on identifying unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.