Horizon Alert
Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters
This advisory addresses a critical vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Ceph storage component, which could allow unauthorized access to data integrity and availability if exploited. The issue stems from how the kernel handles specific storage indices, potentially leading to out-of-bounds memory access when processing corrupted data. The main concern is confirming relevance and exposure within your specific environment.
- Kernel flaw could expose data integrity and availability.
- Remember for potential, though unlikely, internal storage impact.
- Confirm relevance and exposure in your Linux storage systems.
Attack Path
How an attacker could exploit the issue
An attacker could leverage a corrupted Ceph configuration, specifically an invalid OSD map, to trigger a vulnerability in the Linux kernel. This corrupted map could contain invalid indices that are not properly validated by the kernel's Ceph client. When processing this map, the kernel may use these invalid indices to access memory outside of its intended boundaries, potentially leading to severe system compromise.
- Requires access to a corrupted Ceph map.
- Triggered by processing invalid OSD indices.
- Leads to out-of-bounds memory access.
Live Threat
Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context
A corrupted Ceph map could cause the Linux kernel to access memory outside its intended boundaries. This may occur when the kernel processes specific parts of a Ceph map, specifically `primary_temp`.
- Kernel memory access outside bounds.
- Corrupted Ceph map data is processed.
- Potential system instability or crashes.
Operational Fix
Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps
This vulnerability resides in the Linux kernel's libceph component, impacting how Ceph monitors and OSDs handle OSD indices. Responsibility for addressing this likely falls to the infrastructure or platform teams managing the Ceph storage cluster, in coordination with security teams. The immediate first step is to identify all instances of the affected Linux kernel component within the storage infrastructure, assess their exposure and criticality, and then plan remediation based on that assessment.
- Infrastructure or platform teams own resolution.
- Verify Ceph OSD index handling and exposure.
- Plan remediation based on identified risk.
