CVE-2021-33033

Description

A flaw use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIPSO network packet labeling protocol functionality was found in the way user open local network connection with the usage of the security labeling that is IP option number 134. A local user could use this flaw to crash the system or possibly escalate their privileges on the system.

Statement

Considered to be Moderate rate, because by default CIPSO non-enabled and both no known way to reproduce the attack remotely and both it looks complex if even possible to use the attack in any way apart from crashing the system. For the usage of the inbound CIPSO connections, the administrator have to enable it with netlabelctl utility first. The vulnerability is considered to be for local user, because it can happen only when a local user opens a socket for sending packets, but not during receiving packets.

Mitigation

The mitigation would be not allowing CIPSO labeling for the inbound network connections. For the most of the default configurations both for network routers and for the Linux servers itself it is disabled by default.

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 HatNVDcve.org
Base Score7.87.8N/A
Attack VectorLocalLocalN/A
Attack ComplexityLowLowN/A
Privileges RequiredLowLowN/A
User InteractionNoneNoneN/A
ScopeUnchangedUnchangedN/A
ConfidentialityHighHighN/A
Integrity ImpactHighHighN/A
Availability ImpactHighHighN/A

Vector

Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation

The CIA:H since considering use-after-free as memory write (because in this case theoretically possible to write memory after incorrect reading it).

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

Integrity

Technical Impact: Modify Memory

The use of previously freed memory may corrupt valid data, if the memory area in question has been allocated and used properly elsewhere.

Availability

Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

If chunk consolidation occurs after the use of previously freed data, the process may crash when invalid data is used as chunk information.

Confidentiality

Technical Impact: Read Memory

Read operations on freed memory can sometimes leak sensitive information instead of causing a crash

Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability

Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

If malicious data is entered before chunk consolidation can take place, it may be possible to take advantage of a write-what-where primitive to execute arbitrary code. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.

Frequently Asked Questions

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