Linux Kernel up to 3.3.5 rds_iw_laddr_check null pointer dereference

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 3.3.5. It has been declared as problematic. Impacted is the function rds_iw_laddr_check. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference.
This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2014-2678. No exploit exists.
It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 3.3.5 (Operating System). It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function rds_iw_laddr_check. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:
The rds_iw_laddr_check function in net/rds/iw.c in the Linux kernel through 3.14 allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a bind system call for an RDS socket on a system that lacks RDS transports.
The weakness was disclosed 03/31/2014 by Sasha Levin as confirmed git commit (GIT Repository). The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2014-2678 since 03/30/2014. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 73427 (Fedora 20 : kernel-3.13.9-200.fc20 (2014-4844)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Fedora Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 167228 (SUSE Enterprise Linux Security Update for Linux Kernel (SUSE-SU-2014:0807-1)).
Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (92139), Tenable (73427), SecurityFocus (BID 66543†), Secunia (SA57424†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-43883†). Further details are available at seclists.org. The entries VDB-11302, VDB-11755, VDB-12214 and VDB-12411 are pretty similar. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.2VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4
VulDB Base Score: 6.2
VulDB Temp Score: 5.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Null pointer dereferenceCWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No
Availability: 🔍
Status: Unproven
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
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Nessus ID: 73427
Nessus Name: Fedora 20 : kernel-3.13.9-200.fc20 (2014-4844)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍
OpenVAS ID: 867680
OpenVAS Name: Fedora Update for kernel FEDORA-2014-4844
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍
Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: PatchStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Patch: git.kernel.org
Timeline
03/29/2014 🔍03/29/2014 🔍
03/30/2014 🔍
03/31/2014 🔍
04/01/2014 🔍
04/01/2014 🔍
04/03/2014 🔍
04/09/2014 🔍
05/09/2026 🔍
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Researcher: Sasha Levin
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍
CVE: CVE-2014-2678 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2014-2678
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-12732
OVAL: 🔍
X-Force: 92139 - Linux Kernel rds_iw_laddr_check denial of service, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 66543 - Linux Kernel CVE-2014-2678 NULL Pointer Dereference Local Denial of Service Vulnerability
Secunia: 57424 - Linux Kernel "rds_iw_laddr_check()" NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability, Not Critical
Vulnerability Center: 43883 - Linux Kernel <3.14 Local DoS via rds_iw_laddr_check in iw.c, Medium
Misc.: 🔍
See also: 🔍
Entry
Created: 04/01/2014 11:19Updated: 05/09/2026 10:58
Changes: 04/01/2014 11:19 (80), 05/24/2017 10:59 (4), 06/16/2021 11:17 (3), 05/09/2026 10:58 (15)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
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