CVE-2023-45871
📋 TL;DR
A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Intel IGB Ethernet driver in Linux kernels before 6.5.3. When processing frames larger than the configured MTU, inadequate buffer sizing can lead to memory corruption. This affects systems using the igb driver for Intel Gigabit network adapters.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with igb driver
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, or potential arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges resulting in complete system compromise.
Likely Case
System instability, kernel crashes, or denial of service due to memory corruption when processing oversized network frames.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if systems are patched or network controls prevent oversized frames from reaching vulnerable systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending specially crafted network packets. No public exploit code has been identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Linux kernel 6.5.3 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/ChangeLog-6.5.3
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version 6.5.3 or later. 2. For distributions: Use package manager (apt/yum/dnf) to update kernel package. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable IGB driver
linuxRemove or blacklist the igb kernel module to prevent loading
echo 'blacklist igb' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-igb.conf
rmmod igb
Configure MTU limits
linuxUse network filtering to block frames larger than standard MTU
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --tcp-flags SYN,RST SYN -j TCPMSS --clamp-mss-to-pmtu
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network segmentation to isolate systems with IGB adapters
- Deploy network intrusion prevention systems to detect and block oversized frames
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if igb module is loaded: uname -r && lsmod | grep igbCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is 6.5.3 or later: uname -r📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg
- Network interface errors or resets
Network Indicators:
- Unusual oversized network packets targeting port 0 or raw sockets
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "Oops" OR "igb")🔗 References
- https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/ChangeLog-6.5.3
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=bb5ed01cd2428cd25b1c88a3a9cba87055eb289f
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00004.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231110-0001/
- https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/ChangeLog-6.5.3
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=bb5ed01cd2428cd25b1c88a3a9cba87055eb289f
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00004.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231110-0001/
