Identifying Kernel 2.4.x based Linux machines using UDP

[Ofir Arkin <ofir () stake com>]

Subject: Identifying Kernel 2.4.x based Linux machines using UDP

Author: Ofir Arkin (ofir () atstake com)


Linux Kernel 2.4.x has a bug with the UDP implementation which allows 
both active and passive fingerprinting of Linux machines based on the 
2.4.x Kernel.

The following is a simple nslookup query initiated from my Kernel 2.4.10 
based Linux machine:

03/16-11:49:41.531642 192.168.1.200:1024 -> x.x.x.x:53 UDP TTL:64 
TOS:0x0 ID:0 IpLen:20 DgmLen:63 DF
Len: 43
BC 0D 01 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 77 77 77  .............www
03 63 6E 6E 03 63 6F 6D 05 6C 6F 63 61 6C 00 00  .cnn.com.local..
01 00 01                                         ...

The IP Identification field value with the UDP datagram is zero (0). The 
value will be constant and will not be changed for future UDP datagrams 
I will be sending.

The problem is not only with generating UDP datagrams, but also with 
answering UDP queries. With the following example I have sent a UDP 
datagram to the ECHO service on a Linux 2.4.18 based machine:

03/16-12:13:17.388211 192.168.1.200:1775 -> y.y.y.y:7
UDP TTL:64 TOS:0x0 ID:28256 IpLen:20 DgmLen:28
Len: 8

03/16-12:13:17.547636 y.y.y.y:7 -> 192.168.1.200:1775
UDP TTL:50 TOS:0x0 ID:0 IpLen:20 DgmLen:28 DF
Len: 8

The IP identification field value with the answer is zero (0). It will 
also be constant and will not changed if we further query the target.

The biggest problem is the ability to use legitimate applications, such 
as DNS queries with nslookup, and by sending and receiving one packet 
only to have the ability to fingerprint the 2.4.x Kernel branch.

The 2.2.x kernel branch seems not to be affected according to my tests.

Combined with another fingerprinting method using ICMP this time 
(http://www.sys-security.com/archive/bugtraq/ofirarkin2001-03.txt), we 
are able to fingerprint the 2.4.x kernel branch and divide it into two 
groups - 2.4.0-2.4.4 kernels, and the 2.4.5-2.4.18 kernels.


--
Ofir Arkin
Managing Security Architect
@stake, Limited.
http://www.atstake.com
email: 
ofir () stake com