CVE-2023-52796
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a stack overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ipvlan network driver when processing IPv6 outbound traffic. It affects systems using stacked ipvlan devices and can lead to kernel crashes or potential local privilege escalation. The vulnerability is triggered by excessive stack usage during route lookups in specific network configurations.
💻 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 →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, denial of service, or potential local privilege escalation if combined with other vulnerabilities.
Likely Case
System crash or kernel panic when using stacked ipvlan devices with IPv6 traffic, causing denial of service.
If Mitigated
No impact if ipvlan is not used or if devices are not stacked beyond the problematic threshold.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local network access and specific ipvlan configuration. Discovered through syzbot fuzzing.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits: 03cddc4df8c6be47fd27c8f8b87e5f9a989e1458, 18f039428c7df183b09c69ebf10ffd4e521035d2, 1f64cad3ac38ac5978b53c40e6c5e6fd3477c68f, 43b781e7cb5cd0b435de276111953bf2bacd1f02, 4d2d30f0792b47908af64c4d02ed1ee25ff50542
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03cddc4df8c6be47fd27c8f8b87e5f9a989e1458
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Check your distribution's security advisories for specific patched versions. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable ipvlan stacking
linuxAvoid using multiple stacked ipvlan devices in network configuration
# Review network configuration and remove stacked ipvlan devices
# Check with: ip link show type ipvlan
Disable IPv6 on ipvlan interfaces
linuxPrevent IPv6 traffic on ipvlan interfaces to avoid triggering the vulnerability
# Disable IPv6 on specific interface: sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.<interface>.disable_ipv6=1
# Or globally: sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Avoid using ipvlan network interfaces in production environments
- Limit ipvlan device stacking to maximum 4 devices as suggested in the vulnerability report
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if ipvlan interfaces are configured with stacking: uname -r && ip link show type ipvlanCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the fix commits or is newer than vulnerable versions. Check with: uname -r📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- Stack guard page violation in kernel logs
- System crash/reboot events
Network Indicators:
- Unusual network traffic patterns on ipvlan interfaces
- IPv6 routing failures
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("stack guard page" OR "ipvlan" OR "Kernel panic")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03cddc4df8c6be47fd27c8f8b87e5f9a989e1458
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/18f039428c7df183b09c69ebf10ffd4e521035d2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f64cad3ac38ac5978b53c40e6c5e6fd3477c68f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/43b781e7cb5cd0b435de276111953bf2bacd1f02
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d2d30f0792b47908af64c4d02ed1ee25ff50542
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4f7f850611aa27aaaf1bf5687702ad2240ae442a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/732a67ca436887b594ebc43bb5a04ffb0971a760
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8872dc638c24bb774cd2224a69d72a7f661a4d56
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03cddc4df8c6be47fd27c8f8b87e5f9a989e1458
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/18f039428c7df183b09c69ebf10ffd4e521035d2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f64cad3ac38ac5978b53c40e6c5e6fd3477c68f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/43b781e7cb5cd0b435de276111953bf2bacd1f02
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d2d30f0792b47908af64c4d02ed1ee25ff50542
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4f7f850611aa27aaaf1bf5687702ad2240ae442a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/732a67ca436887b594ebc43bb5a04ffb0971a760
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8872dc638c24bb774cd2224a69d72a7f661a4d56
