CVE-2022-41802 in OpenHarmony
Summary
by MITRE • 12/08/2022
Kernel subsystem within OpenHarmony-v3.1.4 and prior versions in kernel_liteos_a has a kernel stack overflow vulnerability when call SysClockGetres. 4 bytes padding data from kernel stack are copied to user space incorrectly and leaked.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41802 represents a critical kernel stack overflow issue within the OpenHarmony operating system version 3.1.4 and earlier releases. This flaw exists within the kernel_liteos_a subsystem and specifically manifests during the execution of the SysClockGetres system call. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of kernel stack memory management where four bytes of padding data that should remain within kernel space are incorrectly copied to user space, creating a potential information disclosure channel. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to both information leakage and potential privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the kernel's handling of system call parameters and memory allocation during clock resolution retrieval operations. When SysClockGetres is invoked, the kernel allocates stack space for processing the request and includes padding bytes to maintain proper memory alignment. However, the memory management routine fails to properly isolate these padding bytes from user space access, allowing the four bytes of kernel stack padding to be inadvertently exposed to user-level applications. This information leak can potentially reveal sensitive kernel memory contents including stack canaries, return addresses, or other critical system data that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for sophisticated attack vectors that align with ATT&CK technique T1003.002 for os credential dumping and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. An attacker could leverage this information leak to perform stack spraying attacks, bypass kernel address space layout randomization, or craft more effective exploitation payloads for subsequent privilege escalation. The exposure of kernel stack padding data provides attackers with insights into kernel memory layout and can be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve full system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects embedded systems and IoT devices running OpenHarmony where kernel-level security is paramount for maintaining system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41802 should prioritize immediate patching of affected OpenHarmony versions to the latest stable releases that contain proper kernel stack memory management fixes. System administrators should implement kernel memory protection mechanisms including stack canary instrumentation and enhanced memory isolation techniques. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious user-space access patterns that attempt to read kernel memory regions should be implemented as part of security operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel memory management practices and underscores the necessity of thorough code review processes for system call implementations. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as kernel module signing and memory access control policies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of kernel subsystems and adherence to secure coding practices as outlined in the OpenHarmony security guidelines are essential for preventing similar issues in future releases.