CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2011-2189

Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

Published: Oct 10, 2011 | Modified: Apr 11, 2025
CVSS 3.x
7.5
HIGH
Source:
NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.x
7.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
RedHat/V2
4.6 MODERATE
AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:C
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
MEDIUM

net/core/net_namespace.c in the Linux kernel 2.6.32 and earlier does not properly handle a high rate of creation and cleanup of network namespaces, which makes it easier for remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via requests to a daemon that requires a separate namespace per connection, as demonstrated by vsftpd.

Weakness

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.

Affected Software

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Linux_kernel Linux * 2.6.32 (including)
Vsftpd Ubuntu hardy *
Vsftpd Ubuntu lucid *
Vsftpd Ubuntu maverick *
Vsftpd Ubuntu natty *
Vsftpd Ubuntu oneiric *
Vsftpd Ubuntu upstream *

Potential Mitigations

  • Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:

  • The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.

  • The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.

References