CVE-2024-0582: A Potentially Dangerous Memory Leak Vulnerability in Linux Kernel’s io_uring Functionality

Overview

The cybersecurity world is once again under threat with the discovery of a new vulnerability, CVE-2024-0582, affecting the Linux kernel’s io_uring functionality. This flaw is particularly dangerous as it exposes the system to potential crashes and privilege escalations. Any local user who registers a buffer ring with IORING_REGISTER_PBUF_RING, mmap() it, and then frees it is at risk. This vulnerability matters because of the potential system compromise or data leakage that can take place, affecting all Linux-based systems that have not been patched.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-0582
Severity: High (7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system crash or privilege escalation leading to system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Linux Kernel | 4.0 – 5.8

How the Exploit Works

The exploitation of this vulnerability occurs in a local attack scenario where a malicious user can create a memory leak flaw in the Linux Kernel’s io_uring functionality. This can be achieved by the attacker registering a buffer ring with IORING_REGISTER_PBUF_RING, mmap() it, and then freeing it. The resulting memory leak can lead to a system crash or potentially allow the attacker to escalate their privileges on the system, leading to a full system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a basic conceptual representation of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
“`c++
#include int main() {
struct io_uring ring;
io_uring_queue_init(32, &ring, 0);
// Register a buffer ring
struct iovec iovecs[1];
iovecs[0].iov_base = malloc(1024);
iovecs[0].iov_len = 1024;
io_uring_register_buffers(&ring, iovecs, 1);
// mmap() the buffer ring
void *map = mmap(NULL, 1024, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, ring.ring_fd, IORING_OFF_SQ_RING);
// Free the buffer ring, creating a memory leak
free(iovecs[0].iov_base);
return 0;
}
“`
Please note that this code is a conceptual representation and may not represent an actual exploit.