The Netlink implementation in the Linux kernel before 3.2.30 does not properly handle messages that lack SCM_CREDENTIALS data, which might allow local users to spoof Netlink communication via a crafted message, as demonstrated by a message to (1) Avahi or (2) NetworkManager.

References

• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3520
• torvalds/linux@e0e3cea
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=850449
• http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=e0e3cea46d31d23dc40df0a49a7a2c04fe8edfea
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-10/msg00005.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-02/msg00018.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50848
• http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.2.30
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/08/22/1
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjan2016-2867209.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/55152
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1599-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1610-1
• http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=e0e3cea46d31d23dc40df0a49a7a2c04fe8edfea