CVE-2023-2163CWE-682

Incorrect Verifier Branch Pruning Logic Leads To Arbitrary Read/Write In Linux Kernel and Lateral Privilege Escalation

Critical · published September 20, 2023

CVSS v3.1
10.0
EPSS
4%
Percentile
89.5
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A single misconfiguration in the BPF of the Linux Kernel can lead to devastating outcomes! This flaw allows unsafe code paths to masquerade as safe, paving the way for arbitrary kernel memory access. 🔥 Think of it like a restaurant that incorrectly marks a dish as vegetarian on the menu — unsuspecting diners might end up with meat on their plate! Similarly, this vulnerability mislabels dangerous code as secure, allowing unwanted access to sensitive data. An attacker exploiting this flaw could gain arbitrary read and write access to kernel memory, leading to lateral privilege escalation and even container escape. This is an absolute nightmare for system integrity, as it could allow malicious users to run rampant with elevated privileges!

Put simply

Think of it like a restaurant that incorrectly marks a dish as vegetarian on the menu — unsuspecting diners might end up with meat on their plate! Similarly, this vulnerability mislabels dangerous code as secure, allowing unwanted access to sensitive data. This vulnerability arises from incorrect verifier pruning in BPF (Berkeley Packet Filter) in Linux Kernel versions 5.4 and above, which fails to properly mark unsafe code paths as dangerous, creating exploitable opportunities for attackers.

What to do

An attacker exploiting this flaw could gain arbitrary read and write access to kernel memory, leading to lateral privilege escalation and even container escape. This is an absolute nightmare for system integrity, as it could allow malicious users to run rampant with elevated privileges! To secure your systems, patch the Linux Kernel to at least version 5.4.234 or later immediately. It’s crucial to monitor your systems for any unusual behavior and to ensure that your security measures are up to date. Don't leave your systems vulnerable! You've got this! Follow these steps and you'll help keep the digital world safe and sound! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
10.0 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.03635 · 89.5th percentile
Weakness
CWE-682 · Incorrect Calculation
Published
2023-09-20T05:02Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 20 SEP 05:02Z
    Incorrect Verifier Branch Pruning Logic Leads To Arbitrary Read/Write In Linux Kernel and Lateral Privilege Escalation
    cvelistv5