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Linux Traffic Hijack Flaw Also Affects Most Android Phones, Tablets (zdnet.com)

Zack Whittaker, writing for ZDNet: As many as 80 percent of Android devices are vulnerable to a recently disclosed Linux kernel vulnerability. Security firm Lookout said in a blog post on Monday that the flaw affects all phones and tablets that are running Android 4.4 KitKat and later, which comes with the affected Linux kernel 3.6 or newer. According to recent statistics, the number of devices affected might run past 1.4 billion phones and tablets -- including devices running the Android Nougat developer preview. Windows and Macs are not affected by the vulnerability. The flaw, disclosed at the Usenix security conference last week, is complicated and difficult to exploit. If an attacker can pull off an exploit, they could inject malicious code into unencrypted web traffic from "anywhere". However, the source and destination IP address would need to be known in order to intercept the traffic, adding to the complexity of carrying out a successful attack.The exploitability isn't easy, though.

39 comments

  1. Re:So what by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    it's

  2. Cue The Apologists!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Time for the Slashdot crowd to tell us why this is a good thing and why Android still rulez.

  3. What? by sexconker · · Score: 1

    How is this different from a typical MITM attack?

    Is this saying that it's a MITM attack that can exploit a flaw in the kernel resulting in arbitrary code execution?
    If so, wouldn't a regular (compromised/malicious) website be able to do the same thing without the MITM being necessary, HTTPS or not?

    If it's not saying that it's a MITM attack that can exploit a flaw in the kernel resulting in arbitrary code execution, WTF is it saying?

    1. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a bit vague, but it sounds like one can inject traffic into a stream without the traffic passing through them. As mentioned they need to know the source & destination IP's that are currently communicating when sending the malicious payload.

    2. Re:What? by quenda · · Score: 3, Informative

      How is this different from a typical MITM attack?

      The attacker does not have to be "in the middle" .
      But standard defence against MITM - don't trust unencrypted connections - would work fine for this as well, I would think.

    3. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is still a lot of email that is unencrypted. Theoretically an attacker could inject an attachment and sentence "Also, check out the attachment for more details" at the end of a legitimate email.

    4. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As well as IPSEC AH, TCP-MD5, TCP-SHA, any UDP-based VPN layer...

      OTOH, any BGP sessions in Linux-based routers you have *better* be protected either by TCP-MD5, IPSEC, or direct-link enforced TTL==255, because a TCP RST spray that gets through (made easier by this exploit) will bring the BGP session down. Note that unlike, say, Juniper gear, Linux *does* support every strong TCP protection in the book, so you *really* have no business running BGP over plain, unprotected TCP.

    5. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      don't trust unencrypted connections

      That should be "don't trust unencrypted/unauthenticated connections." The added bit is extraordinarily important. -PCP

    6. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Theoretically? sure. But, not practically. For one thing the TCP session would have to be long enough time wise to give the attacker time to determine the ports and sequence numbers and then time it properly or fragment it properly so that the corrupted stream is readably corrupted.

    7. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the attacker would have to know the proper TCP sequence number(s) or the data will be discarded. I think this is more of a 'lab' attack and not practical in the real world - at least for TCP. UDP is a different story.

    8. Re: What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I found the unpaid Linux shill. Hey bro, wise up. At least MS and Apple pay well for this service.

    9. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They have to know the source & destination IPs and port numbers and must be non-encrypted traffic.

      It's dramatically easier to simply inject data at the source, given that in order to perform a man in the middle attack you either have full access on either endpoint and know the sequence numbers, or have access to the communication paths, thereby allowing you to monitor the traffic. It's the sequence numbers which create the vulnerability; even though Linux implements the RFC accurately.

      The largest threat this presents is from ISPs and/or NSA injecting stuff into your unencrypted stream. Aside from that, conventional attack vectors are dramatically easier.

      If you're running Linux and are worried, add the following to your sysctl.conf file and run
      net.ipv4.tcp_challenge_ack_limit = 999999999

      The run: sudo sysctl -p

    10. Re:What? by gexacor · · Score: 1

      What could you do at all using your regular Android smartphone? Did you tried to teach your mother or granny do not trust unsecured connections, by the way? :)

  4. No wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Google has perhaps known about this for ages and used the knowledge as motivation to promote wider use of encryption.

    1. Re:No wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or the NSA won't allow them to patch it...

  5. Haha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My now apparently unsupported moto x 2014 (thanks Lenovo) runs kernel 3.4
    I guess that makes me safe?

  6. Patch already available (I think...) by by+(1706743) · · Score: 2, Informative
    Patch.

    The link was from here, which also suggests a fix for unpatched systems:

    echo 'net.ipv4.tcp_challenge_ack_limit = 999999999' >>/etc/sysctl.conf;sysctl -p

    (Courtesy of this site.)

    1. Re:Patch already available (I think...) by by+(1706743) · · Score: 3, Insightful

      (Here's the patch from a more familiar source, kernel.org.)

    2. Re: Patch already available (I think...) by buchanmilne · · Score: 2

      All the different distributions of Linux combined with no user friendly way of keeping the latest patches installed is just asking to be trouble.

      All the distros I have used have had both n00b-friendly and cli-autobatible options for installing updates for more than a decade. E.g. red icon pops up in systray, click it to see what updates are available, deselect some if you need to defer restarting something, click the update button. and carry on with what you were doing. If a kernel or very common lubrary update was installed, you're informed at the end that you should reboot and you are asked if you want to reboot or do it yourself later.

      I don't know how it could be any more user friendly.

    3. Re: Patch already available (I think...) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is so easy that actually .. I was kinda embarrassed that my gran showed me how to do it. Shes a total CLI demon.

      But yeah, she loves running on the endless linux patch treadmill. It gives her a good workout.

  7. Re:Cute by jmccue · · Score: 1

    And Apple has an excellent history of bug fixes compared to Linux.

    Apple has an excellent history of hiding fixes compared to Linux. FTFY

  8. Re:Cute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Compared to Linux? No, they don't, not even close.

    Compared to Android as shipped in phones (i.e. not AOSP), then yes, Apple has a much better track record.

  9. One more reason I hate Lenovo/Mororola support (NO by blueskiesokie · · Score: 3, Informative

    I love my Moto X Force. Motorola has absolutely no software support for their phones! There was one update to Android 6.0 Dec 15 . Absolutely no security updates!! So no fixes for ANY security issues.

  10. Re:Cute by Oloryn · · Score: 1

    I've got the mitigation on all of my Linux machines, but does it work on Android? Looks like the user would be forced to root an Android in order to apply the fix, if it works.

  11. Windows and Macs by Threni · · Score: 1

    "As many as 80 percent of Android devices are vulnerable to a recently disclosed Linux kernel vulnerability"
    "Windows and Macs are not affected by the vulnerability."

    Wait, run that past me again? You're absolutely sure this linux issue doesn't affect devices which don't run linux?

  12. Re:One more reason I hate Lenovo/Mororola support by RubberDogBone · · Score: 1

    My Nexus 6 is similar to your X Force... perhaps somebody can get one of the Nexus 6 ROMs to work on not just your device but all the other Motorola models that are relatively similar.

    But even Google says they will stop guaranteeing updates for the Nexus 6 once Nougat is released. Keep in mind, the Nexus 6 was still a current product up until 9 months ago and you can still get them new in the box. But they've already warned us to not expect much. Not sure if this is Google or Motorola or both declaring this thing dead but damnit this was still a mainline product within the last year. And now it's already an orphan?

    Well, I suppose I should not be too upset: the four Android phones I had before this one got only one or two updates between them, ever. The Nexus 6 has gotten monthly security patches and IIRC 3 major OS updates in the last few months.

    --
    Sig for hire.
  13. Re:One more reason I hate Lenovo/Mororola support by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    This would worry me if there were any active exploits of security flaws. The fact is that mobile phone users in general are dumb as doorknobs and there are far easier ways to exploit the user and gain access to the phone through the legitimate pathways that the OS provides rather than exploiting security holes.

    "Do you wan"OK yes OK I've clicked OK already just go away stupid popup asking me a question I didn't read!

  14. Typical Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Linux/Androd flaw, 30ish comments and the only modded up ones are espousing the greatness of Lnux, despite the fact this will never be fixed on a majority of devices.

    iOS flaw, 300 comments modded up talking about how shitty the platform and how awesome Android is, despite the face that said flaw will likely be fixed on any device from the last 5+ years.

  15. More proof Android's Linux... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: I've pointed that out many times this proves it all the more (as Android's surely NOT Windows or iOS/MacOS X) - & as per my usual? So much for the CRAP spouted here on /. for decades of "Windows != Secure, Linux = Secure" horseshit (until ANDROID came around proving QUITE otherwise that is).

    * Additionally: So much for "all those BLIND EYES on 'Open SORES' code", eh?

    (Lies they spouted for YEARS on this site are falling apart around your ears... nigh constantly, courtesy of ANDROID!)

    APK

    P.S.=> Lastly: The reason for this post? I've had FOOLS around here say "Android is NOT a Linux" (whenever I've pointed out it IS a Linux variant) well again:

    Using a Linux core, it's surely NOT Windows OR iOS/MacOS X - WHICH ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS EXPLOIT...

    &

    This problem proves my point yet again all the more that android IS a form of Linux (with a STUPID java ('dalvik') front-end making it even MORE vulnerable than ever due to all the TONS OF FLAWS in Java)... apk

  16. CVE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For those who care about technical details, the exploit is CVE-2016-5696

  17. Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

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  18. Linux problem affects linux devices? You don't say by allo · · Score: 1

    (no further text)