CVE-2023-33113: Memory Corruption Vulnerability Leading to System Compromise or Data Leakage

Overview

The cybersecurity landscape is plagued with countless threats, and the vulnerability CVE-2023-33113 is a recent addition to the list. This vulnerability is characterized by memory corruption when a resource manager sends the host kernel a reply message with multiple fragments. This vulnerability potentially affects a vast number of systems and can lead to system compromise or data leakage, thus presenting a significant risk to user data and system integrity.
Given the severity of this vulnerability, it is of utmost importance to understand its mechanics, potential impacts, and mitigation strategies. The purpose of this post is to provide a comprehensive overview of CVE-2023-33113, shedding light on these aspects and enabling system administrators and users to protect their systems effectively.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-33113
Severity: High – CVSS Score 8.4
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System Compromise, Data Leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Linux Kernel | 3.2-4.19, 5.0-5.11
Ubuntu | 18.04 LTS, 20.04 LTS, 21.04, 21.10

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability originates from the way the host kernel handles reply messages from the resource manager. When the resource manager sends a reply message with multiple fragments, there is a failure in the proper allocation and management of memory. This improper memory management leads to memory corruption. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or manipulate data, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how the memory corruption might be triggered. This is a simplified representation and should not be used as a real-world exploit.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main() {
char *buffer = malloc(10);
if (buffer == NULL) {
printf("Memory allocation failed\n");
return EXIT_FAILURE;
}
// Overwrite the memory
for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
buffer[i] = 'A';
}
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

In this example, we are allocating a buffer of size 10 bytes. Then we’re writing 100 bytes of data into it. This would lead to memory corruption as we’re writing data beyond what was allocated.

Mitigation Guidance

The best course of action to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-supplied patch. For temporary mitigation, you can use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). However, these are not foolproof solutions and only reduce the risk of exploitation. They do not eliminate the vulnerability.
Always ensure that you have a robust backup and recovery strategy in place. This is your last line of defense should your system get compromised.