exfat: Invalid Cluster Number Vulnerability in Kernel
Summary
GSD-2022-1002874: exfat: check if cluster num is valid. Affects Kernel versions >= 1e49a94cf707204b66a3fb242f2814712c941f52, < 2193286402df2d9c53294f7a858d5e6fd7346e08. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The exfat package is a file system driver for the exFAT file system, which is commonly used in removable storage devices such as USB drives and SD cards. It provides support for reading and writing files on exFAT-formatted devices. The vulnerability in question arises from a failure to properly validate cluster numbers, which can lead to various security issues.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the exfat package allows an attacker to exploit an invalid cluster number, potentially leading to a range of security issues. By providing a specially crafted input, an attacker can trigger a cluster number that is outside the valid range, causing the file system to behave unexpectedly. This can result in data corruption, denial of service, or even remote code execution. The vulnerability was introduced in version v5.7 of the Linux Kernel and has been fixed in version v5.18.2.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
If updating the Kernel is not immediately feasible, a possible workaround is to avoid using exFAT-formatted devices or restrict their usage to trusted sources. Additionally, it is recommended to exercise caution when accessing files on exFAT devices, especially those obtained from untrusted sources.
Conclusion
The exfat package in the Linux Kernel is vulnerable to an invalid cluster number issue, which can have serious security implications. It is crucial to update the Kernel to version v5.18.2 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If you have any further questions or need assistance with vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →
FAQ
The impact of this vulnerability can range from data corruption and denial of service to potential remote code execution. An attacker can exploit an invalid cluster number to manipulate the file system behavior, leading to various security issues.
You can use the Vulert Playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Simply upload your package-lock.json file and Vulert will analyze it for any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.
Yes, a patch for this vulnerability has been released in version v5.18.2 of the Linux Kernel. It is recommended to update to this version or later to fix the vulnerability.
While updating the Kernel is the recommended solution, you can mitigate the risk by avoiding the use of exFAT-formatted devices or limiting their usage to trusted sources. Additionally, exercise caution when accessing files on exFAT devices obtained from untrusted sources.
You can find more information about this vulnerability in the GSD-2022-1002874 entry of the GSD Database maintained by the Cloud Security Alliance. The source link is available at https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2022/1002xxx/GSD-2022-1002874.json.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.
