Vulnerability in Kernel: Disallow Extremely Large seq Buffer Allocations
Summary
GSD-2021-1001472: seq_file: disallow extremely large seq buffer allocations. Affects Kernel versions >= 058504edd02667eef8fac9be27ab3ea74332e9b4, < 3533e50cbee8ff086bfa04176ac42a01ee3db37d. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Kernel is a critical component of the Linux operating system that provides core functionalities and interfaces between hardware and software. It manages system resources, facilitates communication between processes, and handles device drivers. The seq_file interface in the Kernel allows for sequential file access, enabling the reading and writing of data in a structured manner. However, a vulnerability has been identified in the seq_file implementation that allows for the allocation of extremely large seq buffers.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from a lack of proper validation and restriction on the size of seq buffers allocated by seq_file. An attacker could exploit this flaw by requesting the allocation of an excessively large buffer, leading to resource exhaustion and potential denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. The impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet. The vulnerability was introduced in version v3.16 of the Linux Kernel and has been fixed in version v4.4.276.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in the Kernel that allowed for extremely large seq buffer allocations has been addressed in version v4.4.276. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to this version or later to mitigate the risk of potential denial-of-service attacks. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The impact of this vulnerability could potentially lead to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks by exhausting system resources.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Vulert monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring access to the code or installation.
No, there is currently no known exploit for this vulnerability.
No, the vulnerability was introduced in version v3.16 and has been fixed in version v4.4.276.
For more details about this vulnerability, you can refer to the source at https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2021/1001xxx/GSD-2021-1001472.json
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