net: netlink: af_netlink: Prevent empty skb by adding a check on len
Summary
GSD-2021-1002731: net: netlink: af_netlink: Prevent empty skb by adding a check on len. Affects Kernel versions < 4c986072a8c9249b9398c7a18f216dc26a9f0e35. 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 Linux Kernel is an open-source monolithic Unix-like computer operating system kernel. It provides the essential services to enable the execution of programs and manages the system's resources. The netlink subsystem in the kernel allows communication between the kernel and user-space processes. The af_netlink module is responsible for handling netlink sockets. This vulnerability affects the af_netlink module and can lead to the creation of empty skb (socket buffer) without proper checks on the length parameter.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the af_netlink module allows for the creation of empty skb without verifying the length parameter. This can lead to various security issues, such as kernel crashes, privilege escalation, or information leaks. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted netlink messages to the affected system, causing the skb to be empty and triggering the vulnerability. The impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet.
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
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability at the moment.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in the af_netlink module of the Linux Kernel can lead to the creation of empty skb without proper checks on the length parameter. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.15.10 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →
FAQ
The Linux Kernel is an open-source monolithic Unix-like computer operating system kernel that provides essential services to enable program execution and manages system resources.
The netlink subsystem in the Linux Kernel allows communication between the kernel and user-space processes. It provides a mechanism for various kernel components to exchange information and control messages.
af_netlink is a module in the Linux Kernel responsible for handling netlink sockets. It provides an interface for user-space processes to communicate with the kernel through netlink messages.
The potential consequences of this vulnerability include kernel crashes, privilege escalation, and information leaks. However, the actual impact and attack plausibility have not been proven yet.
To fix this vulnerability, users should update their Linux Kernel to version v5.15.10 or later. This can be done by downloading the updated kernel source code from the official Linux Kernel repository and compiling it according to the system's specifications.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.
