Zero-day vulnerability in Linux kernel

Privilege escalation
CVE-2010-3081

Based on the sophisticated and fully functional exploits this vulnerability was exploited in the wild for quite some time before the patch was issued.

Known malware:

Linux/Exploit.CVE-2010-3081.B

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2010090801 - Privilege escalation in Linux kernel

Vulnerable component: Linux kernel

CVE-ID: CVE-2010-3081

CVSSv3 score: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C

CWE-ID: CWE-264 - Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls

Description:

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges.

The vulnerability exists due to improper allocation of userspace memory required for the 32-bit compatibility layer within compat_alloc_user_space() function in include/asm/compat.h file on on 64-bit platforms. A local user can call compat_mc_getsockopt() function and gain control over vulnerable system.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability allows a local non-privileged user to gain root privileges.

Public Exploits:

- Linux Kernel 2.6.27 < 2.6.36 (RedHat x86-64) - 'compat' Privilege Escalation [Exploit-DB]

External links:

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=c41d68a513c71e35a14f66d717...
https://access.redhat.com/articles/40258
https://blogs.oracle.com/ksplice/entry/anatomy_of_an_exploit_cve
http://ryanuber.com/09-25-2010/cve-2010-3081.html
https://blog.nelhage.com/2010/11/exploiting-cve-2010-3081/
http://www.thushanfernando.com/index.php/2010/09/20/cve-2010-3081-64bit-linux-kernel-root-exploit/
https://people.canonical.com/~ubuntu-security/cve/2010/CVE-2010-3081.html
https://www.dshield.org/diary/CVE-2010-3081%2Bkernel%3A%2B64-bit%2BCompatibility%2BMode%2BStack%2BPo...
http://www.kdawebservices.com/blog/2010/09/linux-vulnerability-cve-2010-3081-local-but-serious//cve20103081_see_whether_youve_been_hacked_and/

https://xorl.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/cve-2010-3081-cve-2010-3301-linux-kernel-compat-privilege-esca...
http://www.thehostingnews.com/ksplice-launches-free-security-tool-for-high-profile-cve-2010-3081-lin...
https://www.mnxsolutions.com/security/ksplice-provides-patch-for-linux-kernel-exploit-cve-2010-3081....
http://www.pcworld.com/article/205867/linux_kernel_exploit_gives_hackers_a_back_door.html
https://linux.slashdot.org/story/10/09/20/0217204/linux-kernel-exploit-busily-rooting-64-bit-machine...

About zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerability is an undisclosed vulnerability in software that hackers can exploit to compromise computer programs, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, penetrate networks, etc. We consider vulnerability a zero-day when there is no solution provided from software vendor and the vulnerability is being actively exploited by malicious actors.

Zero-day candidate is a potential zero-day vulnerability in software which might have been used in targeted attacks, however there is no evidence to support this suggestion.