Memory Leak Vulnerability in Linux Kernel

Kernel Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

04/06/2021

Disclosed on

N/A

Severity

No i

Fix available

Unrated

Severity

Not published

CVSS Score

GSD-2021-1000582: net: fec: fix the potential memory leak in fec_enet_init(). Affects Kernel versions >= 59d0f746564495c7f54526674deabfcf101236a1, < 8ee7ef4a57a9e1228b6f345aaa70aa8951c7e9cd. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, responsible for managing system resources and providing essential functionality. It is a critical piece of software that enables the interaction between hardware and software components. The vulnerability in question affects the network driver for the Freescale Ethernet Controller (FEC) in the Linux Kernel.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability, identified as GSD-2021-1000582, is a potential memory leak in the fec_enet_init() function of the FEC network driver in the Linux Kernel. This vulnerability could lead to memory exhaustion and system instability. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) attack or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability was introduced in version v3.18 of the Linux Kernel and has been fixed in version v5.10.42.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.10.42 or later. This can be done by downloading the latest stable version of the Linux Kernel from the official repository (https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/) and following the installation instructions provided. It is important to ensure that the updated Kernel is compatible with the specific system configuration.

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Workaround

If updating the Linux Kernel is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround can be implemented by disabling the affected network driver. This can be achieved by blacklisting the 'fec' module. To do this, add the following line to the '/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf' file:

blacklist fec

After making this change, restart the system for the workaround to take effect. However, it is strongly recommended to update the Kernel to the latest stable version as soon as possible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the memory leak vulnerability in the FEC network driver of the Linux Kernel could lead to memory exhaustion and system instability. It is crucial to update the Kernel to version v5.10.42 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If immediate updating is not possible, a temporary workaround can be implemented by disabling the 'fec' module. For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

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