CVE-2018-11021 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In Amazon Kindle Fire HD (3rd) Fire OS 4.5.5.3, a vulnerability exists in the kernel component that allows attackers to crash the kernel by injecting a specially crafted argument through an ioctl on the device /dev/dsscomp.

Understanding CVE-2018-11021

This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in the kernel component of Amazon Kindle Fire HD (3rd) Fire OS 4.5.5.3 that can be exploited to cause a kernel crash.

What is CVE-2018-11021?

The vulnerability in the kernel component of Amazon Kindle Fire HD (3rd) Fire OS 4.5.5.3 allows attackers to inject a specially crafted argument through an ioctl on the device /dev/dsscomp, leading to a kernel crash.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11021

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in a crash of the kernel, potentially disrupting the device's normal operation and compromising its security.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11021

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in kernel/omap/drivers/video/omap2/dsscomp/device.c in the kernel component of Amazon Kindle Fire HD (3rd) Fire OS 4.5.5.3. Attackers can inject a crafted argument via an ioctl on the device /dev/dsscomp with the command 1118064517, leading to a kernel crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Amazon Kindle Fire HD (3rd) Fire OS 4.5.5.3
Vendor: N/A
Version: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by injecting a specially crafted argument through an ioctl on the device /dev/dsscomp with the specific command 1118064517, causing a crash in the kernel.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-11021 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that might indicate an exploit attempt.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement proper access controls and restrictions to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address security weaknesses.
Educate users about safe computing practices and the importance of security awareness.
Consider implementing intrusion detection and prevention systems to detect and block malicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all relevant patches and updates released by the vendor are applied to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.