CVE-2022-3624 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2022
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function rlb_arp_xmit of the file drivers/net/bonding/bond_alb.c of the component IPsec. The manipulation leads to memory leak. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-211928.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3624 represents a memory leak flaw within the Linux kernel's bonding driver implementation, specifically affecting the rlb_arp_xmit function in the drivers/net/bonding/bond_alb.c file. This issue resides within the IPsec component of the kernel networking stack, where the bonding driver is responsible for managing multiple network interfaces as a single logical interface. The vulnerability manifests when the rlb_arp_xmit function fails to properly release allocated memory resources during specific ARP transmission scenarios, leading to gradual memory consumption that can eventually impact system stability and performance. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-401, which describes improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, making it a significant concern for systems relying on bonded network interfaces for redundancy and load balancing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs within the context of network traffic processing where the bonding driver handles ARP requests and responses for load balancing operations. When the rlb_arp_xmit function processes certain ARP packets, it allocates memory structures to handle the transmission but fails to correctly free these allocations upon completion of the operation. This memory leak accumulates over time and can be particularly problematic in high-traffic network environments where bonding operations occur frequently. The vulnerability is classified as a memory management issue that directly impacts system resource utilization and can potentially lead to denial of service conditions when memory exhaustion occurs. Network administrators monitoring system performance may observe gradual memory consumption increases that correlate with bonding driver activity, making this a subtle but serious concern for production environments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels that utilize the bonding driver with IPsec functionality, particularly those implementing active-backup or load-balancing configurations. The impact extends beyond simple memory consumption as it can degrade network performance through resource exhaustion, potentially causing service interruptions when system memory becomes constrained. The vulnerability is especially concerning in enterprise environments where network reliability is critical, as the gradual memory leak could go unnoticed until it reaches critical levels. Security assessments should consider this vulnerability as part of broader network infrastructure monitoring, particularly in systems where multiple network interfaces are aggregated for redundancy and performance optimization. The memory leak behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves resource exhaustion attacks, though this represents an unintentional vulnerability rather than an intentional attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3624 require immediate application of the vendor-provided kernel patches that address the memory leak in the bonding driver's rlb_arp_xmit function. Organizations should prioritize updating their kernel versions to include the fixes released by Linux kernel maintainers, ensuring that all systems running bonded network configurations receive the necessary patches. System administrators should implement monitoring procedures to track memory usage patterns and identify potential impacts from this vulnerability, particularly in environments with high network traffic volumes. Additionally, temporary workarounds may include disabling specific bonding modes that trigger the vulnerable code path or implementing more frequent system restarts to clear accumulated memory leaks. The patching process should follow standard security update procedures, including testing in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing network configurations and applications. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar memory management issues within the kernel networking stack, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource cleanup in kernel modules.