CVE-2022-41808 in QAT Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2023
Improper buffer restriction in software for the Intel QAT Driver for Linux before version 1.7.l.4.12 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41808 represents a critical buffer management flaw within the Intel QuickAssist Technology QAT Driver for Linux. This issue affects versions prior to 1.7.l.4.12 and stems from improper buffer restriction mechanisms that fail to adequately validate input parameters. The vulnerability specifically targets the driver's handling of memory buffers during data processing operations, creating potential pathways for malicious exploitation. Buffer restriction failures in kernel-level drivers are particularly concerning as they can provide attackers with direct access to system resources and memory management functions that are typically protected from unauthorized manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through insufficient bounds checking and memory validation during buffer allocation and processing within the QAT driver subsystem. When an authenticated user accesses the system locally, they can potentially trigger malformed buffer operations that cause the driver to behave unpredictably. This flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and privilege escalation, where the driver fails to properly enforce buffer size limitations and memory access boundaries. The improper buffer restriction creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layouts, potentially leading to stack corruption, heap overflow conditions, or other memory-related anomalies that can destabilize the driver and subsequently the entire system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk for systems utilizing Intel QAT hardware acceleration features, particularly in environments where local authentication is possible. The denial of service impact can result in complete system instability, requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations. The local access requirement means that attackers must first gain legitimate user credentials or physical access to the system, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt critical services that depend on QAT acceleration. The vulnerability affects the reliability and availability of cryptographic operations, data compression, and other accelerated processing tasks that organizations rely upon for performance-critical applications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address this vulnerability through the installation of Intel QAT Driver version 1.7.l.4.12 or later. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected hardware and driver versions, implementing monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should include regular security updates, enhanced access controls, and network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. Additionally, organizations should implement behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous buffer usage patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of buffer boundaries, and represents a potential entry point for attackers following ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local system privileges. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of cryptographic operations and data processing pipelines that depend on QAT hardware acceleration.