CVE-2023-0461 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article details CVE-2023-0461, a use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Linux Kernel that could lead to local privilege escalation. The vulnerability was published on February 28, 2023, by Google.

Understanding CVE-2023-0461

This section focuses on gaining a comprehensive understanding of CVE-2023-0461, including its description, impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-0461?

CVE-2023-0461 refers to a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux Kernel that allows attackers to achieve local privilege escalation without the need for any special privileges. The vulnerability arises when certain kernel configuration flags are set, opening the door for exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0461

The impact of CVE-2023-0461 is categorized under CAPEC-233, which involves privilege escalation. This vulnerability has a high severity level due to its potential for causing confidentiality, integrity, and availability issues.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0461

In this section, we delve into the specific technical aspects of CVE-2023-0461, such as the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The use-after-free bug specifically targets the 'icsk_ulp_data' of a 'struct inet_connection_sock' within the Linux Kernel. When certain kernel configurations are enabled, a tls context can be installed on a connected tcp socket, leading to vulnerability when the socket is reused or inherited.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts the Linux Kernel version 0 with a specific commit related to the issue. Systems configured with 'CONFIG_TLS' or 'CONFIG_XFRM_ESPINTCP' are vulnerable to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2023-0461 involves manipulating the tls context of a tcp socket through specific operations like 'setsockopt TCP_ULP' without requiring any special privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines various measures to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-0461, including immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is crucial to update the Linux Kernel past the commit '2c02d41d71f90a5168391b6a5f2954112ba2307c' to address the use-after-free vulnerability. Additionally, configuring the kernel with appropriate settings can help prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security practices, such as regular security audits, network segmentation, and access controls, can enhance overall security posture and reduce the risk of privilege escalation vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Staying vigilant with security updates and patch management is essential to address known vulnerabilities promptly. Regularly monitoring for kernel updates and applying patches is crucial in mitigating security risks.

This detailed analysis sheds light on the critical aspects of CVE-2023-0461, emphasizing the importance of swift mitigation strategies and proactive security measures to safeguard systems from potential exploits.