CVE-2024-20022 in MT2737
Summary
by MITRE • 03/04/2024
In lk, there is a possible escalation of privilege due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS08528255; Issue ID: ALPS08528255.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20022 affects the Linux kernel's lk component, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers to elevate their system privileges without requiring user interaction. This vulnerability stems from a missing bounds check within the kernel's memory management subsystem, specifically impacting the lk module which handles low-level kernel operations. The absence of proper input validation creates an exploitable condition where malicious code can manipulate memory boundaries to gain elevated privileges. This flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security mechanisms and provide attackers with system-level access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in bounds checking during kernel memory operations, which aligns with CWE-129, representing an insufficient bounds check vulnerability. The flaw allows an attacker to write beyond allocated memory regions, potentially corrupting kernel data structures or executing arbitrary code with system privileges. This type of vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation issue under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through kernel exploits. The vulnerability exists in the lk kernel module, which is responsible for handling kernel-level operations and memory management functions that are critical to system security.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20022 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control capabilities. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows unauthorized users to execute code with the highest system privileges, potentially enabling full system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any human intervention. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of autonomous exploits that can be leveraged by malware or automated attack frameworks to gain unauthorized system access. The patch ID ALPS08528255 indicates this vulnerability was addressed in a specific kernel update, demonstrating the severity level of the issue.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official kernel patch referenced by the patch ID ALPS08528255, which implements proper bounds checking mechanisms within the lk module. System administrators should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, particularly those running vulnerable kernel versions. Additional security measures include implementing kernel memory protection features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel address space layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult. The vulnerability's nature suggests that traditional security controls may be insufficient, requiring enhanced monitoring of kernel memory operations and system calls that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access controls and regular security audits to detect potential compromise of systems running vulnerable kernel versions, as the vulnerability's impact extends to all local users who may exploit the privilege escalation condition without requiring additional attack vectors.