Linux Kernel TCP Sequence Number Generation Security Weakness

medium Nessus Plugin ID 56283

Language:

Synopsis

It may be possible to predict TCP/IP Initial Sequence Numbers for the remote host.

Description

The Linux kernel is prone to a security weakness related to TCP sequence number generation. Attackers can exploit this issue to inject arbitrary packets into TCP sessions using a brute-force attack.

An attacker may use this vulnerability to create a denial of service condition or a man-in-the-middle attack.

Note that this plugin may fire as a result of a network device (such as a load balancer, VPN, IPS, transparent proxy, etc.) that is vulnerable and that re-writes TCP sequence numbers, rather than the host itself being vulnerable.

Solution

Contact the OS vendor for a Linux kernel update / patch.

See Also

https://lwn.net/Articles/455135/

http://www.nessus.org/u?62a845fa

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 56283

File Name: linux_isn.nasl

Version: 1.17

Type: remote

Family: General

Published: 9/23/2011

Updated: 3/6/2019

Configuration: Enable paranoid mode

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.2

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 6.8

Temporal Score: 5

Vector: AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Temporal Vector: E:U/RL:OF/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

Required KB Items: Settings/ParanoidReport

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Vulnerability Publication Date: 8/23/2011

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2011-3188

BID: 49289