Refcount Leak in gic_populate_ppi_partitions in Kernel
Summary
GSD-2022-1004299: irqchip/gic-v3: Fix refcount leak in gic_populate_ppi_partitions. Affects Kernel versions >= e3825ba1af3a27d7522c9f5f929f5a13b8b138ae, < c136c2924a59a399aa789858cfb320d481964fb7. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Kernel is a fundamental component of the Linux operating system that manages core system functions, including hardware communication and resource allocation. It provides an interface between software applications and the computer's hardware. The gic_populate_ppi_partitions function is part of the irqchip/gic-v3 module in the Kernel, which handles interrupt handling for ARM-based systems. This function is responsible for populating the private peripheral interrupt (PPI) partitions in the Generic Interrupt Controller (GIC) version 3. The GIC is a hardware component that manages interrupts in ARM-based systems. The vulnerability in gic_populate_ppi_partitions can lead to a refcount leak, which can result in resource exhaustion and potential denial-of-service attacks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in gic_populate_ppi_partitions arises from a refcount leak. When the function is called, it fails to properly release the reference count on certain resources, leading to a leak. This can result in resource exhaustion, as the leaked references are not properly freed. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to exhaust system resources, leading to a denial-of-service condition. The vulnerability was introduced in version 4.7 of the Linux Kernel and was fixed in version 5.18.6. The fix involves correcting the refcount handling in the gic_populate_ppi_partitions function.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
To fix the vulnerability, it is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version 5.18.6 or later. This can be done by downloading the latest stable version of the Kernel from the official Git repository (https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/) and following the installation instructions provided. Alternatively, users can check if their system is affected by the vulnerability using the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) without requiring access to the code or installation.
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Workaround
There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The refcount leak vulnerability in gic_populate_ppi_partitions in the Kernel can lead to resource exhaustion and potential denial-of-service attacks. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version 5.18.6 or later to fix this vulnerability. Users can also use the Vulert Playground to check if their system is affected without requiring access to the code or installation. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability can lead to resource exhaustion and potential denial-of-service attacks.
You can use the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your system is affected without requiring access to the code or installation.
Yes, the vulnerability has been fixed in Linux Kernel version 5.18.6.
Yes, you can manually fix this vulnerability by updating the Linux Kernel to version 5.18.6 or later.
There are no known exploits for this vulnerability at the moment.
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