CVE-2023-52664
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability is a double-free memory corruption flaw in the Linux kernel's Atlantic network driver. It allows attackers to potentially crash the system or execute arbitrary code by exploiting memory allocation failures under stress. Systems using affected Linux kernel versions with the atlantic network driver loaded are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to denial of service, or potential privilege escalation to kernel-level code execution allowing complete system compromise.
Likely Case
System crash or instability when network driver experiences memory pressure, leading to denial of service.
If Mitigated
Limited to denial of service if kernel hardening features like KASLR and SMAP/SMEP are enabled and effective.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires triggering specific memory allocation failure conditions in the network driver, which may require local access or ability to stress the system's memory.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patched in Linux kernel stable releases via commits referenced in CVE
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0edb3ae8bfa31cd544b0c195bdec00e036002b5d
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. For custom kernels, apply commits: 0edb3ae8bfa31cd544b0c195bdec00e036002b5d, b3cb7a830a24527877b0bc900b9bd74a96aea928, c11a870a73a3bc4cc7df6dd877a45b181795fcbf, d1fde4a7e1dcc4d49cce285107a7a43c3030878d. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable atlantic driver
linuxPrevent loading of vulnerable network driver if not needed
echo 'blacklist atlantic' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-atlantic.conf
rmmod atlantic
Memory pressure mitigation
linuxConfigure system to reduce memory allocation failures
sysctl -w vm.overcommit_memory=2
sysctl -w vm.overcommit_ratio=80
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local access to prevent exploitation by untrusted users
- Monitor system logs for kernel panics or memory allocation failures related to network driver
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if atlantic driver is loaded: lsmod | grep atlantic. Check kernel version against patched releases.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes patched commits. Check dmesg for no double-free warnings related to atlantic driver.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- Double-free detection warnings in dmesg
- Memory allocation failure logs from network subsystem
Network Indicators:
- Sudden network interface disappearance
- Unusual network driver reloads
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("double free" OR "atlantic" OR "kernel panic")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0edb3ae8bfa31cd544b0c195bdec00e036002b5d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b3cb7a830a24527877b0bc900b9bd74a96aea928
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c11a870a73a3bc4cc7df6dd877a45b181795fcbf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1fde4a7e1dcc4d49cce285107a7a43c3030878d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0edb3ae8bfa31cd544b0c195bdec00e036002b5d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b3cb7a830a24527877b0bc900b9bd74a96aea928
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c11a870a73a3bc4cc7df6dd877a45b181795fcbf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1fde4a7e1dcc4d49cce285107a7a43c3030878d
