Use After Free Vulnerability in rtl8192e Driver
Summary
GSD-2021-1002524: staging: rtl8192e: Fix use after free in _rtl92e_pci_disconnect(). Affects Kernel versions >= 66898177e7e5486dc77a4ba742efa4e2e9e900a4, < e27ee2f607fe6a9b923ef1fc65461c0613c97594. 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 rtl8192e driver is a component of the Linux Kernel, which is responsible for managing the Realtek RTL8192E wireless network adapter. This driver enables communication between the operating system and the network adapter, allowing users to connect to wireless networks and access the internet. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in the driver that could potentially be exploited by attackers.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as GSD-2021-1002524, is a use after free issue in the _rtl92e_pci_disconnect() function of the rtl8192e driver. This function is responsible for handling the disconnection of the network adapter from the PCI bus. Due to a programming error, the driver may continue to access memory that has already been freed, leading to potential memory corruption or crashes. An attacker who can exploit this vulnerability may be able to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition on the affected system.
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
If updating the kernel is not immediately feasible, users can mitigate the risk by disabling the affected driver. This can be done by blacklisting the rtl8192e module. The specific steps to blacklist the module may vary depending on the Linux distribution being used. However, a general approach is to create a configuration file in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory with the following contents:
blacklist rtl8192e
After creating the file, a system reboot or reloading of the module blacklist may be necessary for the changes to take effect.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rtl8192e driver in the Linux Kernel is vulnerable to a use after free issue, which could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition. It is crucial to update the kernel to the latest version or apply the provided workaround to mitigate the risk. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →
FAQ
If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition on the affected system.
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 and the Vulert Playground will analyze it for any known vulnerabilities, including GSD-2021-1002524.
Yes, if updating the kernel is not immediately feasible, you can mitigate the risk by blacklisting the rtl8192e module. Please refer to the 'workaround' section for detailed instructions.
At the time of this report, there are no known public exploits specifically targeting this vulnerability. However, it is always important to promptly apply security updates to protect against potential future exploits.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the official Linux Kernel repository or the Cloud Security Alliance's GSD database (https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database).
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.
