Linux Kernel drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/atombios.c Range Check Vulnerability [CVE-2010-5331]

CVE number – CVE-2010-5331

A vulnerability in the Linux Kernel could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on a targeted system.

The vulnerability is due to improper range checks in the drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/atombios.c source code file of the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a request that submits malicious input to the targeted system. A successful exploit could trigger an off-by-one buffer overflow condition that could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a DoS condition. 

Kernel.org has confirmed the vulnerability and released software updates.

Analysis

• To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must send a request that submits malicious input to the targeted system, making exploitation more difficult in environments that restrict network access from untrusted sources.

Safeguards

• Administrators are advised to apply the appropriate updates.
  
  Administrators are advised to allow only trusted users to have network access.
  
  Administrators are advised to run both firewall and antivirus applications to minimize the potential of inbound and outbound threats.
  
  Administrators may consider using IP-based access control lists (ACLs) to allow only trusted systems to access the affected systems.
  
  Administrators can help protect affected systems from external attacks by using a solid firewall strategy.
  
  Administrators are advised to monitor affected systems.

Vendor Announcements

• Kernel.org has released a git commit at the following link: commit 0031c41be5c529f8329e327b63cde92ba1284842

Fixed Software

• Kernel.org has released software updates and a git commit at the following links: Kernel 2.6.34 or later and drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_atombios.c: range check issues