CVE-2024-56614 CVE-2024-56615: PoC Exploits Released for Severe eBPF Vulnerabilities in Linux Kernel
Two severe vulnerabilities, CVE-2024-56614 and CVE-2024-56615, have been identified in the Linux kernel's eBPF framework, which is used for high-performance packet processing with AF_XDP sockets. Both vulnerabilities have a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating their potential to cause significant security issues. They exploit integer overflow errors in critical functions, leading to out-of-bounds writes and memory corruption. CVE-2024-56614 affects the xsk_map_delete_elem function, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code by gaining kernel control. Similarly, CVE-2024-56615 involves an integer overflow in the devmap_map_delete_elem function, also enabling kernel compromise. The root cause is an implicit type conversion during a bounds check, allowing negative values to bypass it, resulting in memory corruption. Proof-of-concept exploit code is available, raising the risk of exploitation. Users are urged to update their Linux systems to patched versions to mitigate these vulnerabilities.
While these Linux kernel eBPF vulnerabilities enable initial memory corruption through integer overflow errors, BlueRock's defense-in-depth approach significantly reduces their impact. These vulnerabilities may allow attackers to achieve initial memory corruption, but BlueRock's security mechanisms contain and mitigate the attack's progression in several key ways. Kernel Integrity Protection and Integrity Patch Violation prevent unauthorized modifications to kernel code segments, blocking attempts to inject malicious code following successful memory corruption. Process Credential Protection and DirtyCred Protection safeguard critical credential structures, preventing the privilege escalation paths that attackers typically pursue after exploiting kernel memory vulnerabilities. Privileged Inode Protection blocks attempts to modify sensitive filesystem objects and kernel interfaces that attackers frequently target to establish persistence. Register Protect helps maintain the integrity of CPU registers during exploitation attempts, potentially disrupting control flow hijacking techniques. Page Table Protection prevents attacks from escalating to compromise memory isolation mechanisms if attackers attempt to target page tables during later exploitation stages. This multi-layered approach ensures that even if an attacker successfully exploits the initial memory corruption vulnerability, BlueRock significantly restricts their ability to achieve meaningful objectives such as privilege escalation, persistent access, or data exfiltration.
- T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation: The article discusses two vulnerabilities, CVE-2024-56614 and CVE-2024-56615, in the Linux kernel's eBPF framework. Both vulnerabilities allow attackers to exploit integer overflow errors in critical functions, leading to out-of-bounds writes and memory corruption. This aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique for exploiting public-facing applications, as the vulnerabilities can be leveraged to gain control over the kernel. This is an example of Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where the attacker uses a vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
- T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution: The vulnerabilities allow an attacker to perform an out-of-bounds write operation, which can lead to memory corruption and potential control flow hijacking. This action corresponds to the MITRE ATT&CK technique for hijacking execution flow through exploitation, as the attacker can manipulate the program execution flow to execute arbitrary code.
- T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation: The successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could lead to a complete system compromise, allowing the attacker to gain root privileges and execute arbitrary code. This scenario aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique for Privilege Escalation, where an attacker gains higher-level permissions on a system.
