Linux: Improper Check for Dropped Privileges
CVE-2023-52433 is a high-severity improper check for dropped privileges vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 9db9feb841f7449772f9393c16b9ef4536d8c127, 03caf75da1059f0460666c826e9f50e13dfd0017, c323ed65f66e5387ee0a73452118d49f1dae81b8 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.26% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 9db9feb841f7449772f9393c16b9ef4536d8c127 or 03caf75da1059f0460666c826e9f50e13dfd0017 or c323ed65f66e5387ee0a73452118d49f1dae81b8 or 9af7dfb3c9d7985172a240f85e684c5cd33e29ce, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.5.4 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | cb4d00b563675ba8ff6ef94b077f58d816f68ba3 up to, but not including, 9db9feb841f7449772f9393c16b9ef4536d8c127; c357648929c8dff891502349769aafb8f0452bc2 up to, but not including, 03caf75da1059f0460666c826e9f50e13dfd0017; 146c76866795553dbc19998f36718d7986ad302b up to, but not including, c323ed65f66e5387ee0a73452118d49f1dae81b8; 479a2cf5259347d6a1f658b0f791d27a34908e91 up to, but not including, 9af7dfb3c9d7985172a240f85e684c5cd33e29ce; df650d6a4bf47248261b61ef6b174d7c54034d15 up to, but not including, 9a8c544158f68f656d1734eb5ba00c4f817b76b1; f6c383b8c31a93752a52697f8430a71dcbc46adf up to, but not including, e3213ff99a355cda811b41e8dbb3472d13167a3a; f6c383b8c31a93752a52697f8430a71dcbc46adf up to, but not including, 2ee52ae94baabf7ee09cf2a8d854b990dac5d0e4; e4d71d6a9c7db93f7bf20c3a0f0659d63d7de681; and 2 more ranges | 9db9feb841f7449772f9393c16b9ef4536d8c127, 03caf75da1059f0460666c826e9f50e13dfd0017, c323ed65f66e5387ee0a73452118d49f1dae81b8, 9af7dfb3c9d7985172a240f85e684c5cd33e29ce, 9a8c544158f68f656d1734eb5ba00c4f817b76b1, e3213ff99a355cda811b41e8dbb3472d13167a3a |
| NetApp | Ontap Tools | 9; 10 | Not stated |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.5 up to, but not including, 6.5.4 | 6.5.4 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 4.4 | Medium | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_set_rbtree: skip sync GC for new elements in this transaction New elements in this transaction might expired before such transaction ends. Skip sync GC for such elements otherwise commit path might walk over an already released object. Once transaction is finished, async GC will collect such expired element.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Check for Dropped Privileges
The product attempts to drop privileges but does not check or incorrectly checks to see if the drop succeeded.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is expected.
- In Windows, make sure that the process token has the SeImpersonatePrivilege(Microsoft Server 2003). Code that relies on impersonation for security must ensure that the impersonation succeeded, i.e., that a proper privilege demotion happened.
More Improper Check for Dropped Privileges vulnerabilities (CWE-273)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/03caf75da1059f0460666c826e9f50e13dfd0017
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ee52ae94baabf7ee09cf2a8d854b990dac5d0e4
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a8c544158f68f656d1734eb5ba00c4f817b76b1
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9af7dfb3c9d7985172a240f85e684c5cd33e29ce
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9db9feb841f7449772f9393c16b9ef4536d8c127
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c323ed65f66e5387ee0a73452118d49f1dae81b8
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3213ff99a355cda811b41e8dbb3472d13167a3a
Third-party and government advisories
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240828-0003/Third Party Advisory
Recent Improper Check for Dropped Privileges vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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