KVM: PPC: Fix kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl vcpu_load leak
Summary
UVI-2021-1001163: KVM: PPC: Fix kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl vcpu_load leak. Affects Kernel versions >= b3cebfe8c1cadf1817939dcc3688a2504a69c662, < a4a488915feaad38345cc01b80d52e8200ff5209. 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 Kernel package is a fundamental component of the Linux operating system. It provides the core functionality and interfaces for the system's hardware and software components. The KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) subsystem within the Kernel package enables the hosting of virtual machines on Linux. It allows users to run multiple virtual machines with different operating systems on a single physical machine. However, a vulnerability has been identified in the KVM: PPC (PowerPC) implementation, specifically in the kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl function. This vulnerability can lead to a memory leak when handling vcpu_load requests.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the KVM: PPC implementation arises from a memory leak in the kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl function. When processing vcpu_load requests, the function fails to release allocated memory, resulting in a memory leak. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to exhaust system memory resources, leading to a denial-of-service condition. The impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet. The vulnerability was introduced in version v4.18 of the Linux Kernel and has been fixed in version v5.13.6.
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
No workaround has been provided for this vulnerability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the KVM: PPC implementation in the Linux Kernel package is vulnerable to a memory leak in the kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl function. This vulnerability can potentially lead to a denial-of-service condition. It is recommended to update the Linux Kernel package to version v5.13.6 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →
FAQ
The impact of this vulnerability is not yet proven. However, it could potentially lead to a denial-of-service condition by exhausting system memory resources.
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 alert you in real-time if any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one, are detected.
No known exploit for this vulnerability has been reported at this time.
The recommended mitigation is to update the Linux Kernel package to version v5.13.6 or later, which includes the fix for this vulnerability.
You can find more information about this vulnerability in the official GitHub repository of the Cloud Security Alliance's GSD Database: https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2021/1001xxx/UVI-2021-1001163.json
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.
