CVE-2023-45922 in Mesa
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2024
glx_pbuffer.c in Mesa 23.0.4 was discovered to contain a segmentation violation when calling __glXGetDrawableAttribute(). NOTE: this is disputed because there are no common situations in which users require uninterrupted operation with an attacker-controller server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45922 resides within the Mesa graphics library's glx_pbuffer.c component version 23.0.4, specifically manifesting as a segmentation fault during execution of the __glXGetDrawableAttribute() function call. This represents a classic memory access violation scenario where the graphics subsystem attempts to reference invalid memory locations or improperly handle drawable attribute retrieval operations. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the X11 GLX extension implementation, which forms part of the broader graphics rendering pipeline that applications use to interface with GPU hardware through the X Window System.
The technical flaw manifests when applications utilizing Mesa's OpenGL X11 extensions attempt to query drawable attributes through the __glXGetDrawableAttribute() interface while working with pixel buffer objects. This function serves as a critical interface for retrieving information about graphical drawables in the X11 environment, but fails to properly validate input parameters or handle edge cases that could lead to memory corruption. The segmentation violation occurs because the implementation does not adequately check for null pointers, invalid drawable handles, or malformed attribute requests that could cause the graphics driver to attempt accessing memory it should not have access to, potentially leading to system instability or application crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a potential denial of service condition where legitimate graphics applications may experience unexpected termination or system instability when interacting with certain drawable objects. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially affect entire desktop environments or graphics-intensive applications that rely heavily on GLX extensions for rendering operations. While the vendor has disputed the severity of this issue due to the limited practical scenarios where uninterrupted operation is required, the vulnerability remains concerning from a security standpoint as it could be exploited in specific contexts where attackers control the graphics server or have the ability to inject malicious drawable objects into the rendering pipeline. This aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and represents a variant of memory safety issues that commonly affect graphics drivers and X11 extensions.
The vulnerability's exploitation potential remains constrained by the specific conditions required for triggering the segmentation fault, but security researchers should consider its implications within broader attack vectors involving graphics processing and X11 server manipulation. Organizations using Mesa graphics libraries in environments where graphics stability is critical should monitor for updates and patches addressing this issue. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, as it could potentially be leveraged to disrupt graphics services or gain elevated privileges through manipulation of graphics rendering contexts. System administrators should ensure their Mesa implementations are updated to versions that address this memory access violation, particularly in multi-user environments where graphics server stability is paramount for overall system reliability and user experience.