Memory Leak in spi_gpio_probe() Function in Linux Kernel
Summary
CVE-2019-19070: A memory leak in the spi_gpio_probe() function in drivers/spi/spi-gpio.c in the Linux kernel through 5.3.11 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by triggering devm_add_action_or_reset() fail... Affects linux versions 5.10.103-1 – 6.9.9-1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Linux kernel is a widely used open-source operating system kernel that serves as the foundation for various Linux distributions. It provides essential functionality for the operating system, including device drivers, memory management, and process scheduling. The spi_gpio_probe() function is part of the kernel's SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) subsystem and is responsible for probing and initializing SPI devices connected via GPIO pins. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2019-19070, involves a memory leak in the spi_gpio_probe() function.
Vulnerability Detail
The memory leak vulnerability in spi_gpio_probe() allows attackers to cause a denial of service (DoS) by triggering failures in the devm_add_action_or_reset() function. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can consume excessive memory resources, leading to system instability or crashes. It is important to note that this vulnerability requires the system to already be out of memory before the probe begins, which may limit its practical impact.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As this vulnerability relies on the system being out of memory before the probe begins, ensuring sufficient memory availability can mitigate the risk. Monitoring system memory usage and taking appropriate actions to prevent memory exhaustion can help prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The memory leak vulnerability in the spi_gpio_probe() function of the Linux kernel can lead to a denial of service (DoS) by consuming excessive memory resources. It is recommended to update the kernel to version 5.3.12 or later to address this vulnerability. Monitoring system memory usage and ensuring sufficient memory availability can also help mitigate the risk. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability can cause a denial of service (DoS) by consuming excessive memory resources, leading to system instability or crashes.
No, the vulnerability can be exploited if the system is already out of memory before the probe begins.
The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions up to and including 5.3.11.
Monitoring system memory usage and ensuring sufficient memory availability can help mitigate the risk of exploitation.
For more detailed information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the CVE-2019-19070 JSON report available at the following source: https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/osv-output/CVE-2019-19070.json
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