Memory Leak in fib6_rule_suppress in Kernel
Summary
GSD-2021-1002447: ipv6: fix memory leak in fib6_rule_suppress. Affects Kernel versions >= ca7a03c4175366a92cee0ccc4fec0038c3266e26, < ee38eb8cf9a7323884c2b8e0adbbeb2192d31e29. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Kernel is a crucial component of the Linux operating system that acts as a bridge between the hardware and software layers. It provides essential functionalities, such as managing system resources, handling device drivers, and facilitating communication between different software components. The fib6_rule_suppress function in the IPv6 subsystem of the Kernel is responsible for suppressing routing rules. However, a memory leak vulnerability has been identified in this function.
Vulnerability Detail
The memory leak vulnerability in fib6_rule_suppress allows an attacker to cause a continuous allocation of memory without proper deallocation. This can lead to memory exhaustion, resulting in system instability or denial of service. The vulnerability was introduced in version v5.4 of the Linux Kernel by commit ca7a03c4175366a92cee0ccc4fec0038c3266e26 and was fixed in version v5.4.164 by commit ee38eb8cf9a7323884c2b8e0adbbeb2192d31e29.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
If updating the Kernel is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround can be implemented by disabling the IPv6 subsystem. This can be achieved by modifying the system configuration file (/etc/sysctl.conf) and adding the following line:
net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1
After making the change, the system needs to be rebooted for the workaround to take effect. However, it is strongly recommended to update the Kernel as soon as possible to address the underlying vulnerability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the memory leak vulnerability in fib6_rule_suppress in the Kernel can lead to memory exhaustion and potential system instability or denial of service. It is crucial to update the Kernel to version v5.4.164 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If immediate updating is not feasible, a temporary workaround of disabling the IPv6 subsystem can be implemented. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The memory leak vulnerability in fib6_rule_suppress can lead to memory exhaustion, potentially causing system instability or denial of service.
You can use the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your system is affected by this vulnerability. Simply upload your package-lock.json file to the playground, and it will analyze the dependencies and alert you if any vulnerabilities, including this one, are found.
At the time of this report, there is no known exploit for this vulnerability. However, it is important to promptly update the Kernel to mitigate the risk.
A temporary workaround is available by disabling the IPv6 subsystem. However, it is strongly recommended to update the Kernel as soon as possible to address the underlying vulnerability.
You can find more information about the fix and the vulnerability in the Linux Kernel repository. The fix was implemented in commit ee38eb8cf9a7323884c2b8e0adbbeb2192d31e29, and the vulnerability was introduced in commit ca7a03c4175366a92cee0ccc4fec0038c3266e26.
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