Memory Leak Vulnerability in Linux Kernel tty: serial: 8250: serial_cs
Summary
GSD-2021-1001277: tty: serial: 8250: serial_cs: Fix a memory leak in error handling path. Affects Kernel versions < 7a80f71601af015856a0aeb1e3c294037ac3dd32. 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 Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, responsible for managing system resources and providing essential functionality. The tty subsystem in the Linux Kernel handles terminal input and output, including serial communication. The 8250 serial driver (serial_cs) is a module within the tty subsystem that provides support for serial devices using the 8250 UART controller. This vulnerability specifically affects the serial_cs module in the Linux Kernel.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the serial_cs module of the Linux Kernel is related to a memory leak in the error handling path. When certain error conditions occur during serial communication, memory allocated for the serial_cs module is not properly freed, leading to a memory leak. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to exhaust system memory resources, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet.
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
There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The memory leak vulnerability in the serial_cs module of the Linux Kernel can be mitigated by updating to the latest version of the Linux Kernel. It is important to regularly apply security updates and patches to ensure the overall security of the system. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →
FAQ
The impact of this vulnerability could potentially lead to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition by exhausting system memory resources.
You can use Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Vulert Playground allows you to analyze your manifest file (e.g., package-lock.json) and provides real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities.
There is no known exploit for this vulnerability at the moment. However, it is important to apply the recommended fix to mitigate any potential risks.
The recommended mitigation for this vulnerability is to update the Linux Kernel to the latest version that includes the fix. Regularly applying security updates and patches is crucial for maintaining the security of your system.
You can refer to the vulnerability details in the Open Source Vulnerability format provided by the Cloud Security Alliance's GSD database. The vulnerability ID is GSD-2021-1001277.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.
