Memory Leak in nfcmrvl_play_deferred in Kernel
Summary
GSD-2022-1004316: nfc: nfcmrvl: Fix memory leak in nfcmrvl_play_deferred. Affects Kernel versions < 3eadc560c1919b8193d17334145dad9a917960e4. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The Kernel is a crucial component of the Linux operating system that manages system resources and provides an interface for software to interact with the hardware. It is responsible for tasks such as process management, memory management, and device drivers. The nfcmrvl module in the Kernel is used for NFC (Near Field Communication) operations on Marvell devices. NFC allows for short-range wireless communication between devices, enabling features like contactless payments and data transfer. However, a memory leak vulnerability has been identified in the nfcmrvl_play_deferred function, which could lead to resource exhaustion and potential system instability.
Vulnerability Detail
The nfcmrvl_play_deferred function in the nfcmrvl module of the Kernel suffers from a memory leak vulnerability. When this function is called, it may allocate memory but fail to release it under certain conditions, resulting in a continuous accumulation of memory over time. This can eventually lead to resource exhaustion, causing system performance degradation or even crashes. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to launch denial-of-service attacks or gain elevated privileges by exhausting system resources. The vulnerability has been fixed in Linux Kernel version v5.18.6 by commit 3eadc560c1919b8193d17334145dad9a917960e4.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can disable the nfcmrvl module if it is not required for their system. This can be done by blacklisting the module or preventing it from being loaded during system startup. However, this workaround may disable NFC functionality on Marvell devices.
Conclusion
The memory leak vulnerability in nfcmrvl_play_deferred in the Kernel can lead to resource exhaustion and potential system instability. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.18.6 or later to fix this vulnerability. Users can also consider disabling the nfcmrvl module as a temporary workaround, although this may disable NFC functionality on Marvell devices. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →
FAQ
The vulnerability can lead to resource exhaustion, causing system performance degradation or crashes. It may also be exploited by attackers to launch denial-of-service attacks or gain elevated privileges.
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.
Yes, the vulnerability has been fixed in Linux Kernel version v5.18.6 by commit 3eadc560c1919b8193d17334145dad9a917960e4. It is recommended to update to this version or a later one to mitigate the vulnerability.
Yes, as a temporary workaround, you can disable the nfcmrvl module if it is not required for your system. This can be done by blacklisting the module or preventing it from being loaded during system startup. However, this may disable NFC functionality on Marvell devices.
You can refer to the vulnerability details in the GSD database (https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2022/1004xxx/GSD-2022-1004316.json) for more information about this vulnerability, including its impact and the fix.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.
