Refcount Leak in realview_gic_of_init in Kernel
Summary
GSD-2022-1004649: irqchip/gic/realview: Fix refcount leak in realview_gic_of_init. Affects Kernel versions >= 82b0a434b436f5da69ddd24bd6a6fa5dc4484310, < e52a58b79f11755ea7e877015c4a1704303fa55f. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Kernel is a crucial component of the Linux operating system that manages system resources and facilitates communication between hardware and software. It provides essential functionalities such as process management, memory management, and device drivers. The realview_gic_of_init function in the irqchip/gic/realview module is responsible for initializing the Generic Interrupt Controller (GIC) on ARM-based RealView platforms. The GIC handles interrupt requests from various hardware devices and distributes them to the appropriate processors. This vulnerability in realview_gic_of_init can lead to a refcount leak, potentially causing resource exhaustion and system instability.
Vulnerability Detail
The refcount leak vulnerability in realview_gic_of_init arises from a failure to properly release resources when initializing the GIC on RealView platforms. This can result in a gradual accumulation of unreleased resources, leading to resource exhaustion and potential system crashes. An attacker may be able to exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition or disrupt the normal operation of the system. The vulnerability was introduced in version v4.6 of the Linux Kernel and has been fixed in version v5.10.124.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
If updating the Kernel is not immediately feasible, a possible workaround is to disable the affected functionality by modifying the system configuration. However, this workaround may result in the loss of GIC functionality on RealView platforms. It is strongly recommended to prioritize updating the Kernel to the latest version to fully address the vulnerability.
Conclusion
The refcount leak vulnerability in realview_gic_of_init can lead to resource exhaustion and system instability. It is crucial to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.10.124 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Users can obtain the updated Kernel from the official Linux Kernel repository. If immediate updating is not possible, disabling the affected functionality can serve as a temporary workaround. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability can lead to resource exhaustion and system instability, potentially resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition or system crashes.
You can use Vulert's playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Simply upload your manifest file (e.g., package-lock.json) to the playground, and it will provide real-time alerts if the vulnerability is detected.
At the time of this report, there is no known exploit for this vulnerability. However, it is still important to promptly update the Kernel to the latest version to mitigate the risk.
This vulnerability does not have a remote code execution component. However, an attacker with local access to the system may be able to exploit the vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition.
If updating the Kernel is not immediately feasible, a possible workaround is to disable the affected functionality by modifying the system configuration. However, it is strongly recommended to prioritize updating the Kernel to the latest version to fully address the vulnerability.
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