Refcount Leak in icp_opal_init() in powerpc/xics

Kernel Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

28/06/2022

Disclosed on

N/A

Severity

No i

Fix available

Unrated

Severity

Not published

CVSS Score

GSD-2022-1003738: powerpc/xics: fix refcount leak in icp_opal_init(). Affects Kernel versions < 537a317e5ff45d1f5a0ecaf6a0d7c8043c878cb1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

The powerpc/xics package is a component of the Linux Kernel, which is responsible for handling interrupt controller operations on PowerPC systems. The icp_opal_init() function in this package initializes the interrupt controller for Open Firmware-based systems. This vulnerability in icp_opal_init() leads to a refcount leak, which can result in resource exhaustion and potential denial of service attacks.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability in icp_opal_init() is caused by a refcount leak, where the reference count of a resource is not properly decremented when it is no longer needed. This can lead to resource exhaustion, as the leaked references are not released, causing a gradual depletion of available resources. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to exhaust system resources, leading to a denial of service condition. The vulnerability has been fixed in Linux Kernel version v5.4.198 by commit 537a317e5ff45d1f5a0ecaf6a0d7c8043c878cb1.

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 v5.4.198 or later. This can be done by pulling the latest updates from the official Linux Kernel repository and rebuilding the kernel. Alternatively, users can wait for their Linux distribution to release an updated package containing the fix.

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Conclusion

The vulnerability in icp_opal_init() in powerpc/xics can lead to resource exhaustion and potential denial of service attacks. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.4.198 or later to fix this vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

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