Use-after-free vulnerability in sc520_wdt watchdog driver in Linux Kernel
Summary
GSD-2021-1001268: watchdog: sc520_wdt: Fix possible use-after-free in wdt_turnoff(). Affects Kernel versions < a173e3b62cf6dd3c4a0a10c8a82eedfcae81a566. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The sc520_wdt watchdog driver is responsible for managing the watchdog timer on SC520-based systems. The watchdog timer is a hardware component that triggers a system reset if it is not periodically refreshed by the software. This driver is part of the Linux Kernel and is used in SC520-based embedded systems. The vulnerability identified in this driver can lead to a use-after-free condition, which can potentially be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition.
Vulnerability Detail
The use-after-free vulnerability in the sc520_wdt watchdog driver occurs when the driver attempts to turn off the watchdog timer. Under certain conditions, the driver may free the memory associated with the watchdog timer object before it is finished using it. This can result in a use-after-free scenario where an attacker can potentially manipulate the freed memory to execute arbitrary code or cause a system crash. The impact of this vulnerability depends on the context in which the freed memory is used and the attacker's ability to control the contents of the freed memory.
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 sc520_wdt watchdog driver if it is not essential for the system's operation. This can be achieved by blacklisting the driver module or removing it from the kernel configuration. However, it is important to note that disabling the watchdog timer may impact the system's ability to recover from certain failures.
Conclusion
The use-after-free vulnerability in the sc520_wdt watchdog driver in the Linux Kernel can potentially be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. It is crucial to update the Kernel to version v5.10.52 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If immediate updating is not possible, consider disabling the sc520_wdt watchdog driver as a temporary workaround. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The sc520_wdt watchdog driver is responsible for managing the watchdog timer on SC520-based systems. The watchdog timer is a hardware component that triggers a system reset if it is not periodically refreshed by the software.
A use-after-free vulnerability occurs when a program or driver continues to use memory after it has been freed. This can lead to various security issues, including the potential execution of arbitrary code or system crashes.
The impact of this vulnerability depends on the context in which the freed memory is used and the attacker's ability to control the contents of the freed memory. It can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or denial-of-service (DoS) conditions.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.10.52 or later, which includes a patch for the sc520_wdt watchdog driver. Updating the Kernel will ensure that the vulnerability is addressed.
If updating the Kernel is not immediately feasible, a possible workaround is to disable the sc520_wdt watchdog driver if it is not essential for the system's operation. This can be achieved by blacklisting the driver module or removing it from the kernel configuration.
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