CVE-2023-6176 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE, assigned by Red Hat, relates to a local denial-of-service vulnerability in the scatterwalk_copychunks function within the kernel.

Understanding CVE-2023-6176

This section will provide an overview of what CVE-2023-6176 entails, including its impact, technical details, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-6176?

CVE-2023-6176 involves a null pointer dereference flaw in the Linux kernel API for the scatterwalk cryptographic algorithm, allowing a local user to crash the system or potentially elevate their privileges by crafting a malicious packet with specific socket configurations.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6176

The vulnerability's impact is considered to be of medium severity, with a CVSS base score of 4.4. It affects systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, 8, and 9, as well as Fedora.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6176

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the scatterwalk_copychunks function allows a local user to trigger a null pointer dereference, potentially leading to system crashes or privilege escalation through carefully constructed packets.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts various versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, specifically versions 6, 8, and 9, as well as Fedora.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2023-6176, a malicious user needs to construct a specially crafted packet with specific socket configurations to trigger the null pointer dereference flaw in the scatterwalk cryptographic algorithm.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-6176, it is crucial to implement immediate steps, follow long-term security practices, and ensure proper patching and updates to mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to monitor official security advisories from Red Hat and apply any relevant patches or mitigations provided to address CVE-2023-6176 promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintaining up-to-date software and implementing stringent access controls can help fortify systems against potential local denial-of-service vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-6176.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating the kernel and associated packages on affected systems is essential to ensure the latest security patches are in place and vulnerabilities are mitigated effectively.