CVE-2022-39005 in EMUI
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2022
The MPTCP module has the memory leak vulnerability. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can cause memory leaks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2022
The CVE-2022-39005 vulnerability resides within the Multipath TCP (MPTCP) kernel module, representing a critical memory management flaw that affects Linux systems implementing MPTCP functionality. This vulnerability manifests as a memory leak condition that occurs during the processing of specific network traffic patterns, particularly when handling multipath connections. The MPTCP protocol, designed to improve network reliability and performance by allowing data transmission across multiple network paths simultaneously, introduces complex state management that becomes problematic when certain connection termination sequences are processed. The vulnerability specifically impacts the kernel's memory allocation and deallocation mechanisms within the MPTCP subsystem, where allocated memory structures fail to be properly released under certain conditions.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate memory cleanup routines within the MPTCP module's connection management code. When network connections are terminated or when specific error conditions occur during multipath communication, the kernel fails to properly invoke memory deallocation functions for allocated data structures. This results in memory fragments that remain allocated to the kernel's memory pool, gradually consuming available system resources over time. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be triggered through normal network operations without requiring special privileges or complex exploitation techniques. The memory leak occurs in the kernel space, making it difficult to detect through standard user-space monitoring tools and potentially leading to system instability or denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-39005 extends beyond simple resource consumption, as sustained memory leaks can lead to system performance degradation, increased latency, and eventually complete system crashes or reboot cycles. Servers and network infrastructure devices that rely heavily on MPTCP functionality, such as those running high-throughput applications or serving multiple concurrent connections, face the greatest risk. The vulnerability affects systems where MPTCP is enabled and actively processing network traffic, particularly in environments with high connection turnover rates or those implementing advanced network configurations that utilize multiple paths. Network administrators may observe gradual performance degradation over time, with system memory utilization steadily increasing until system resources are exhausted.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patch application from kernel vendors, as the primary fix requires modifications to the kernel's MPTCP implementation to ensure proper memory deallocation during all connection termination scenarios. System administrators should disable MPTCP functionality on affected systems until patches are applied, particularly in production environments where continuous availability is critical. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to track kernel memory usage patterns and detect anomalous increases that may indicate memory leak activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which describes improper management of memory allocation and deallocation, and represents a specific instance of resource leak conditions that can be exploited to cause denial of service through resource exhaustion. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged by adversaries to conduct resource exhaustion attacks, potentially leading to system compromise or service disruption. Organizations should implement regular kernel updates and maintain strict patch management procedures to prevent exploitation of such memory management vulnerabilities.