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Update Protection against Linux Kernel IPv6 over IPv4 Memory Leak Denial of Service Vulnerability

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Check Point Reference: CPAI-2008-073
Date Published:
Severity:
Last Updated:
Source: Secunia Advisory: SA30241
Industry Reference(s): CVE-2008-2136
Protection Provided by: VPN-1
  • NGX R65
  • NGX R62
  • NGX R61
  • NGX R60
  • NG with Application Intelligence R55
VSX
  • NGX
  • NGX R65
InterSpect
  • NGX
Connectra
  • NGX R62
  • NGX R61
IPS-1
  • IPS-1
  • IPS-1 NGX R65
Who is Vulnerable?
Linux Kernel Project Kernel prior to 2.6.25.3
Vulnerability Description
A denial of service vulnerability has been reported in the Linux Kernel. Linux is a popular open-source operating system that supports the IPv4 and IPv6 network protocols. IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling is a technique that encapsulates IPv6 packets within IPv4 headers to transit them over IPv4 routing infrastructures. A remote attacker may exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted network packet to a target host.
Update/Patch Available
Update to version 2.6.25.3.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is due to an error in the Linux Kernel IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling driver that fails to properly handle crafted network packets. In order to exploit this issue, an attacker can send a specially crafted packet to a vulnerable host.  Successful exploitation may allow the attacker to create a denial of service condition.

Protection Overview
By enabling this protection, SmartDefense will detect and block malformed IPv6 packets sent to the vulnerable host.

In order for the protection to be activated, update your VPN-1/InterSpect/Connectra product to the latest SmartDefense update. For information on how to update SmartDefense, go to SBP-2006-05, Protection tab and select the version of your choice.

To configure the defense, select your product from the list below and follow the related protection steps.

VPN-1 NGX R65 & R62

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tab, click Network Security > IP and ICMP > Block Linux Kernel IPv6 Memory Leak DoS.
2. In the configuration pane, under Settings > Mode, check Active.
3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: IPv6 Protocol Violation
Attack Information: Linux kernel IPv6 memory leak DoS detected

VPN-1 NGX R61 & R60

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tree, click Network Security > IP and ICMP.
2. Select the following:

Block Linux Kernel IPv6 Memory Leak DoS

3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: IPv6 Protocol Violation
Attack Information: Linux kernel IPv6 memory leak DoS detected

VPN-1 NG with Application Intelligence R55

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tree, click Network Security > IP and ICMP.
2. Select the following:

Block Linux Kernel IPv6 Memory Leak DoS

3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
Rule #99995 will appear on the SmartView Tracker.

VPN-1 VSX NGX R65

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tab, click Network Security > IP and ICMP > Block Linux Kernel IPv6 Memory Leak DoS.
2. In the configuration pane, under Settings > Mode, check Active.
3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: IPv6 Protocol Violation
Attack Information: Linux kernel IPv6 memory leak DoS detected

VPN-1 VSX NGX

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the SmartDefense tree, click Network Security > IP and ICMP.
2. Select the following:

Block Linux Kernel IPv6 Memory Leak DoS

3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
Rule #99995 will appear on the SmartView Tracker.

InterSpect NGX

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the left pane, select Profiles > Default Protection and select the SmartDefense page of the profile.
2. In the Network Security tree, and click IP and ICMP.
3. Select the following:

Block Linux Kernel IPv6 Memory Leak DoS

4. Install security policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: IPv6 Protocol Violation
Attack Information: Linux kernel IPv6 memory leak DoS detected

Connectra NGX R62 & R61

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the left-hand menu, click Security > SmartDefense > Application Intelligence.
2. In the Dynamic Attacks pane, select the following protection:

Block Linux Kernel IPv6 Memory Leak DoS

3. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
Upon attack, the following entries will be logged:

Attack Name: IPv6 Protocol Violation
Attack Information: Linux kernel IPv6 memory leak DoS detected

IPS-1 & IPS-1 NGX R65

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the IPS-1 Policy Manager, click on the Protection tab.
2. In the Protection tree, click Network Security > IP, and select the Encapsulation protection group.
3. Click Linux IPv6 over IPv4 Memory Leak (IPS-1 NGX R65 only).
4. In the configuration pane, under Settings, check Active.
5. Click on Install Policy.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
Upon attack, the following entry will be logged:

Alert Name: ip_encapsulation: linux_6to4_alert
Description: Linux IPv6 over IPv4 Memory Leak