Out-of-Bounds Memory Access in mlxsw Thermal Module
Summary
GSD-2021-1001826: mlxsw: thermal: Fix out-of-bounds memory accesses. Affects Kernel versions >= a50c1e35650b929500bd89be61c89d95a267ce56, < ae0993739e14a102d506aa09e11b0065f3144f10. 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 mlxsw package is a component of the Linux Kernel ecosystem. It provides support for Mellanox SwitchX Ethernet switches. The mlxsw thermal module is responsible for managing the thermal behavior of these switches. It ensures that the temperature of the switch remains within safe limits to prevent hardware damage. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in the mlxsw thermal module that allows for out-of-bounds memory accesses.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the mlxsw thermal module arises from improper memory access operations. Due to a coding error, the module may access memory beyond the allocated boundaries, leading to potential memory corruption or crashes. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition. The vulnerability was introduced in version 4.10 of the Linux Kernel and has been fixed in version 5.4.155.
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 workaround, users can disable the mlxsw thermal module if it is not essential for their system's operation. However, this may result in the loss of thermal management capabilities for Mellanox SwitchX Ethernet switches.
Conclusion
The out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in the mlxsw thermal module of the Linux Kernel can potentially lead to memory corruption or crashes. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version 5.4.155 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If the mlxsw thermal module is not essential, it can be disabled as a workaround. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →
FAQ
The vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition.
You can use the Vulert Playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Simply upload your package-lock.json file to the playground, and it will provide real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.
Yes, you can disable the mlxsw thermal module if it is not necessary for your system. However, this may result in the loss of thermal management capabilities for Mellanox SwitchX Ethernet switches.
Yes, the vulnerability has been fixed in Linux Kernel version 5.4.155.
You can find more information about this vulnerability in the Open Source Vulnerability Database. The vulnerability ID is GSD-2021-1001826.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.
