CVE-2017-1086 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In previous versions of FreeBSD, a vulnerability exists in the struct ptrace_lwpinfo that could potentially leak information from the kernel stack to a debugger when using the ptrace (PT_LWPINFO) call.

Understanding CVE-2017-1086

What is CVE-2017-1086?

CVE-2017-1086 is a Kernel Information Leak vulnerability in FreeBSD versions prior to specific releases, allowing unauthorized access to kernel stack information.

The Impact of CVE-2017-1086

The vulnerability could lead to the exposure of sensitive information from the kernel stack to unauthorized users, compromising system security.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-1086

Vulnerability Description

In affected FreeBSD versions, the struct ptrace_lwpinfo contains irrelevant information, potentially leaking kernel stack data to a debugger via the ptrace (PT_LWPINFO) call.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: FreeBSD
Versions: All supported versions of FreeBSD before 11.1-STABLE, 11.1-RELEASE-p4, 11.0-RELEASE-p15, 10.4-STABLE, 10.4-RELEASE-p3, and 10.3-RELEASE-p24

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to observe certain bytes from the kernel stack of a thread using the ptrace (PT_LWPINFO) call in userspace.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update FreeBSD to versions 11.1-STABLE, 11.1-RELEASE-p4, 11.0-RELEASE-p15, 10.4-STABLE, 10.4-RELEASE-p3, or 10.3-RELEASE-p24 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly apply security patches and updates to the FreeBSD operating system.
Implement access controls and restrictions to limit unauthorized access to sensitive system information.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by FreeBSD to address known vulnerabilities.