CVE-2022-1012
Description
The Linux kernel's TCP source port generation algorithm in the TCP stack contains a flaw due to the small table perturb size. This flaw allows an attacker to positively distinguish a system among devices with identical hardware and software, which lasts until the device restarts.
An attacker can guess the evolution of the internal state used for source port generation. This information is used to infer the TCP traffic patterns of the victim, guessing the number of outgoing TCP connections established in a specific time frame, which can lead to a system fingerprinting.
Statement
Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 7 (RHEL7) is not affected by this issue. While RHEL7 implements the TCP port randomization algorithm 3 (the Simple Hash-Based Port Selection Algorithm), which knowingly has shortcomings (as per RFC 6056, item 3.3.3), the object of study of this flaw was the TCP port selector algorithm 4, the Double-Hash Port Selection Algorithm, which is not existent in RHEL7.
This flaw is ranked as a Moderate impact due to:
- Limited exposure of the data in the TCP stack;
- The impact of this vulnerability is limited to a system fingerprinting;
- The requirements to carry the attack are elevated, requiring monitoring of the data flow.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.5 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | N/A |
| Privileges Required | None | None | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | None | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | N/A |
| Confidentiality | Low | Low | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | N/A |
| Availability Impact | Low | High | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation
This flaw may leak information specific to the network information (C:L) and (A:L) will not cause a system reboot. It can produce predictable information about source TCP ports.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Application Data
Acknowledgements
Red Hat would like to thank Moshe Kol (Hebrew University) for reporting this issue.
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