Use After Free Vulnerability in rtl8192e Driver in Linux Kernel
Summary
GSD-2021-1002408: staging: rtl8192e: Fix use after free in _rtl92e_pci_disconnect(). Affects Kernel versions >= 66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4, < bca19bb2dc2d89ce60c4a4a6e59609d4cf2e13ef. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rtl8192e driver is a staging driver in the Linux Kernel that provides support for Realtek RTL8192E wireless network adapters. This driver is responsible for managing the communication between the operating system and the RTL8192E hardware. The vulnerability identified in this driver is a use after free issue, which occurs when the driver continues to reference memory after it has been freed. This can lead to various security implications, including potential remote code execution or denial of service attacks.
Vulnerability Detail
The use after free vulnerability in the _rtl92e_pci_disconnect() function of the rtl8192e driver allows an attacker to exploit a freed memory region. By manipulating the system in a specific way, an attacker can trigger the use of this freed memory, leading to potential security breaches. The vulnerability was introduced in version v3.2 of the Linux Kernel by commit 66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4 and was fixed in version v4.19.219 by commit bca19bb2dc2d89ce60c4a4a6e59609d4cf2e13ef.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
If updating the Linux Kernel is not immediately feasible, a possible workaround is to disable the affected driver module. This can be done by blacklisting the 'rtl8192e' module in the kernel configuration. However, this workaround may result in the loss of functionality provided by the RTL8192E wireless network adapter.
Conclusion
The use after free vulnerability in the rtl8192e driver in the Linux Kernel can have serious security implications. It is crucial to update the Linux Kernel to the latest version to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The use after free vulnerability in the rtl8192e driver can potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service on a vulnerable system.
Yes, this vulnerability can be exploited remotely if the attacker can send specially crafted network packets to the vulnerable system.
There are no known instances of this vulnerability being exploited in the wild at the time of this report.
While network security measures can help in detecting and preventing exploitation attempts, the ultimate fix for this vulnerability lies in updating the Linux Kernel to a version that includes the necessary security patches.
At the time of this report, no CVSS score has been assigned to this vulnerability.
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