CVE-2023-54243

Description

From CVE.org

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: ebtables: fix table blob use-after-free We are not allowed to return an error at this point. Looking at the code it looks like ret is always 0 at this point, but its not. t = find_table_lock(net, repl->name, &ret, &ebt_mutex); ... this can return a valid table, with ret != 0. This bug causes update of table->private with the new blob, but then frees the blob right away in the caller. Syzbot report: BUG: KASAN: vmalloc-out-of-bounds in __ebt_unregister_table+0xc00/0xcd0 net/bridge/netfilter/ebtables.c:1168 Read of size 4 at addr ffffc90005425000 by task kworker/u4:4/74 Workqueue: netns cleanup_net Call Trace: kasan_report+0xbf/0x1f0 mm/kasan/report.c:517 __ebt_unregister_table+0xc00/0xcd0 net/bridge/netfilter/ebtables.c:1168 ebt_unregister_table+0x35/0x40 net/bridge/netfilter/ebtables.c:1372 ops_exit_list+0xb0/0x170 net/core/net_namespace.c:169 cleanup_net+0x4ee/0xb10 net/core/net_namespace.c:613 ... ip(6)tables appears to be ok (ret should be 0 at this point) but make this more obvious.

Statement

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel netfilter ebtables path where a table’s private blob may be replaced but then freed on an unexpected error return, leaving a dangling pointer. A local attacker with low privileges (typically requiring CAP_NET_ADMIN in a network namespace) could trigger it by performing table replacement in a way that hits the inconsistent find_table_lock() return state and then causing table teardown (e.g., via netns cleanup), leading to kernel memory corruption and a crash.

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).

The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.

CVSS v3 Score Breakdown

Red HatNVDcve.org
Base Score5.3N/A7.8
Attack VectorLocalN/ALocal
Attack ComplexityHighN/ALow
Privileges RequiredLowN/ALow
User InteractionNoneN/ANone
ScopeUnchangedN/AUnchanged
ConfidentialityLowN/AHigh
Integrity ImpactNoneN/AHigh
Availability ImpactHighN/AHigh

Vector

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

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

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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