Uninitialized Value Vulnerability in rtl8712 Driver in Linux Kernel
Summary
GSD-2022-1003209: staging: rtl8712: fix uninit-value in usb_read8() and friends. Affects Kernel versions < 95b0f54f8a898072a2810c05fab34d971f23a612. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rtl8712 driver is a staging driver in the Linux Kernel that provides support for Realtek RTL8712U Wireless LAN USB devices. This driver allows users to connect to wireless networks using these devices. The driver is part of the staging area in the kernel, which means it is still under development and may contain bugs or vulnerabilities. The rtl8712 driver is used by various Linux distributions to enable wireless connectivity on systems with Realtek RTL8712U USB wireless adapters.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified in the rtl8712 driver is an uninitialized value issue in the usb_read8() function and related functions. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to read sensitive information from kernel memory or potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The uninitialized value could lead to unpredictable behavior and security vulnerabilities. The impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet, but it is important to address it to ensure the security of systems using the rtl8712 driver.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a workaround, users can disable the rtl8712 driver if it is not required for their system. This can be done by blacklisting the rtl8712 module or removing it from the kernel configuration. However, this workaround may result in the loss of wireless connectivity for systems using Realtek RTL8712U USB wireless adapters.
Conclusion
The uninitialized value vulnerability in the rtl8712 driver in the Linux Kernel could potentially lead to security issues and should be addressed by updating the kernel to version v5.15.47 or later. Users can also consider disabling the rtl8712 driver as a temporary workaround, but this may result in the loss of wireless connectivity for systems using Realtek RTL8712U USB wireless adapters. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The impact of this vulnerability is not yet proven, but it could potentially allow an attacker to read sensitive information from kernel memory or execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
You can check if your system is affected by this vulnerability by using the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner). Simply upload your package-lock.json file to the playground, and it will analyze your dependencies and alert you if any of them are affected by this vulnerability.
Yes, a patch for this vulnerability has been released in the Linux Kernel version v5.15.47. Users should update their kernel to this version or later to fix the vulnerability.
As a temporary mitigation, you can disable the rtl8712 driver if it is not required for your system. However, this may result in the loss of wireless connectivity for systems using Realtek RTL8712U USB wireless adapters.
You can find more information about this vulnerability in the GSD-2022-1003209.json file in the GSD database (https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2022/1003xxx/GSD-2022-1003209.json).
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