What happened
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum If a packet with bad checksum metadata gets into the ipv4 stack, skb_checksum_help can corrupt the network header and cause a bunch of mischief. This was discovered and reported by Paulos, and has been reporoduced by others independently since. We really shouldn't allow such packets in, but as a defence in depth measure, let's also check before we complete the checksum. A more complete validation at input is forthcoming, but needs more work.
Affected versions
Linux: f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before a464d950f31c89565cbaae038cc60db04fe01956 (git); f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before 0fab003ef4698e0628060a45a48f14b43ba2a40a (git); f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before 94524b7b32691de2e2ce162c04d6cbc9106e5cbf (git); f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before a65f69e0f38ffbed1b128029e09097436416dc8b (git); f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before 32a8b0adaa18e52aaa0b246b5ffe683075354dbb (git); f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before f3e835af6226f1dd12160cbd696081e9b6155de0 (git); f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before c3e33464746166264334641dc850a36eef7e6326 (git); f43798c27684ab925adde7d8acc34c78c6e50df8 through before 6785011f8b16abf40b1e9d8b2e332232b3e68822 (git); 2.6.27 Fixed: See vendor advisory.
Why it matters
This source correlation may provide earlier visibility while structured CVE metadata is still being updated.
Detection & mitigation
- Review the original advisory and validate affected versions.
- Apply vendor-provided updates or mitigations when available.