CVE-2018-19333 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2018-19333 article provides insights into a vulnerability found in Google gVisor before November 1, 2018, allowing attackers to manipulate memory locations within root processes.

Understanding CVE-2018-19333

This section delves into the details of the vulnerability and its impact.

What is CVE-2018-19333?

The vulnerability in the pkg/sentry/kernel/shm/shm.go file in Google gVisor pre-November 2018 enabled attackers to alter memory locations in root processes without escaping the sandbox.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19333

The vulnerability permitted attackers to modify memory locations within processes running as root, although they were unable to bypass the sandbox. The attack vector involved triggering mishandling of reference counting through IPC_RMID shmctl calls.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19333

Explore the technical aspects of the CVE-2018-19333 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in pkg/sentry/kernel/shm/shm.go in Google gVisor before November 1, 2018, allowed attackers to overwrite memory locations in processes running as root via IPC_RMID shmctl calls.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Not applicable
Affected Vendor: Not applicable
Affected Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploited the vulnerability by mishandling reference counting through IPC_RMID shmctl calls.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2018-19333 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google gVisor to a patched version released after November 1, 2018.
Monitor and restrict IPC_RMID shmctl calls to prevent unauthorized memory alterations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to limit root access.
Regularly audit and review memory manipulation processes to detect anomalies.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.