Memory Leak in smsc75xx_bind in Kernel
Summary
GSD-2021-1000563: net: usb: fix memory leak in smsc75xx_bind. Affects Kernel versions >= d0cad871703b898a442e4049c532ec39168e5b57, < 70c886ac93f87ae7214a0c69151a28a8075dd95b. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Kernel is a crucial component of the Linux operating system that manages system resources and facilitates communication between hardware and software. It provides essential functionalities such as process management, memory management, and device drivers. The smsc75xx_bind function in the Kernel's USB subsystem is responsible for binding the SMSC75xx USB Ethernet driver to the corresponding USB device. However, a memory leak vulnerability has been identified in this function, which could lead to resource exhaustion and system instability.
Vulnerability Detail
The memory leak vulnerability in smsc75xx_bind arises from a failure to release allocated memory when binding the SMSC75xx USB Ethernet driver. This can result in a gradual depletion of system resources, potentially leading to system crashes or denial of service conditions. An attacker with physical access to a vulnerable system could exploit this vulnerability to exhaust available memory and disrupt normal system operation. The vulnerability was introduced in version v2.6.34 of the Linux Kernel and has been fixed in version v5.12.9.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can unload and reload the SMSC75xx USB Ethernet driver module to release any allocated memory. This can be achieved by executing the following commands as root:
rmmod smsc75xx
modprobe smsc75xx
Conclusion
The memory leak vulnerability in smsc75xx_bind can lead to resource exhaustion and system instability. It is crucial to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.12.9 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Regularly updating the Kernel is recommended to stay protected against other vulnerabilities and ensure a secure system. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability can result in a gradual depletion of system resources, potentially leading to system crashes or denial of service conditions. However, exploitation requires physical access to the system.
You can use the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Simply upload your package-lock.json file and the Vulert Playground will analyze it for any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.
There is no evidence of this vulnerability being exploited in the wild at the time of this report. However, it is recommended to apply the necessary updates to mitigate the risk.
The primary mitigation is to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.12.9 or later. Regularly updating the Kernel is also advisable to stay protected against other vulnerabilities and ensure the latest bug fixes and security patches are applied.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the vulnerability database entry at: https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2021/1000xxx/GSD-2021-1000563.json
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