net/mlx5e: Nullify cq->dbg pointer in mlx5_debug_cq_remove()
Summary
GSD-2021-1002320: net/mlx5e: nullify cq->dbg pointer in mlx5_debug_cq_remove(). Affects Kernel versions >= 94b960b9deffc02fc0747afc01f72cc62ab099e3, < 2ae38157080616a13a9fe3f0b4b6ec0070aa408a. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The net/mlx5e package is a part of the Linux Kernel ecosystem. It provides support for Mellanox ConnectX-4 and ConnectX-5 Ethernet adapters. These adapters are commonly used in high-performance computing and data center environments. The mlx5_debug_cq_remove() function is responsible for removing a debug entry from the completion queue (cq) of the mlx5e driver. This function is called when a completion event is processed. The cq->dbg pointer is used for debugging purposes and should be nullified after the debug entry is removed.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as GSD-2021-1002320 in the net/mlx5e package allows an attacker to potentially exploit the uninitialized cq->dbg pointer. By manipulating the completion queue, an attacker could cause a null pointer dereference or other memory corruption issues, leading to a denial of service (DoS) or potential privilege escalation. The vulnerability was introduced in version v5.15 of the Linux Kernel and was fixed in version v5.15.5.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a workaround, users can apply the patch manually to the affected version of the Linux Kernel. The patch can be obtained from the commit 2ae38157080616a13a9fe3f0b4b6ec0070aa408a. Here is an example of how to apply the patch:
- Download the patch file from the commit.
- Navigate to the Linux Kernel source code directory.
- Apply the patch using the 'git apply' command:
$ git apply /path/to/patch/file
- Recompile and reinstall the Linux Kernel.
Conclusion
The net/mlx5e vulnerability identified as GSD-2021-1002320 can potentially lead to a denial of service (DoS) or privilege escalation. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.15.5 or later to fix this vulnerability. Users can also manually apply the provided patch as a workaround. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability can potentially lead to a denial of service (DoS) or privilege escalation. An attacker could exploit the uninitialized cq->dbg pointer to cause null pointer dereference or memory corruption issues.
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, and Vulert will analyze it in real-time.
Yes, a workaround is available. Users can manually apply the patch provided in the commit 2ae38157080616a13a9fe3f0b4b6ec0070aa408a to the affected version of the Linux Kernel.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.15.5 or later. Users can obtain the updated kernel from the official Linux Kernel repository.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the vulnerability details in the GSD database: https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2021/1002xxx/GSD-2021-1002320.json
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