CVE-2019-5607 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability in FreeBSD versions before 12.0-RELEASE-p8, 11.3-RELEASE-p1, and 11.2-RELEASE-p12 could allow a local attacker to gain root privileges or escape from a restricted environment.

Understanding CVE-2019-5607

This CVE involves an issue in FreeBSD that could be exploited by a malicious user to manipulate the reference counter, potentially leading to privilege escalation or escaping from a confined environment.

What is CVE-2019-5607?

Before specific revisions of FreeBSD versions, a flaw existed in the handling of transmitted rights over a domain socket, allowing unauthorized manipulation of the reference counter.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5607

The vulnerability could enable a local attacker to gain root privileges or break out of a restricted environment, such as a jail, by exploiting the reference counter manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5607

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in FreeBSD versions allowed a malicious user to cause the reference counter to wrap, triggering a free event and potentially gaining elevated privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

FreeBSD versions before 12.0-RELEASE-p8
FreeBSD versions before 11.3-RELEASE-p1
FreeBSD versions before 11.2-RELEASE-p12

Exploitation Mechanism

By transmitting rights over a domain socket improperly, a malicious user could manipulate the reference counter, leading to privilege escalation or escaping from a restricted environment.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5607 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by FreeBSD promptly.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.
Restrict access to critical system components.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch FreeBSD systems to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access rights.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that FreeBSD systems are updated to versions that include the necessary fixes for CVE-2019-5607.