ARM: davinci: da850-evm: Avoid NULL pointer dereference in Kernel
Summary
GSD-2022-1002159: ARM: davinci: da850-evm: Avoid NULL pointer dereference. Affects Kernel versions >= bae105879f2f2404155da6f50b3636193d228a62, < 89931d4762572aaee6edbe5673d41f8082de110f. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Kernel is a critical component of the Linux operating system that acts as a bridge between the hardware and software layers. It provides essential functionalities and services to enable the proper functioning of the system. The ARM davinci da850-evm is a specific hardware platform that utilizes the Kernel. It is susceptible to a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability, which can lead to system crashes or potentially be exploited by attackers.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the ARM davinci da850-evm Kernel arises from a NULL pointer dereference. This occurs when a program attempts to access or manipulate data using a pointer that points to no valid memory address (NULL). In this case, a NULL pointer dereference can occur in certain scenarios, leading to a system crash or potential security exploit. The impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet. The vulnerability was introduced in Kernel version v2.6.33 and has been fixed in version v5.4.190 by commit 89931d4762572aaee6edbe5673d41f8082de110f.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a workaround, users can avoid triggering the NULL pointer dereference by ensuring that the specific scenarios leading to the vulnerability are not encountered. This may involve modifying the system configuration or avoiding certain actions that trigger the issue. However, applying the official fix by updating the Kernel is the recommended approach.
Conclusion
The ARM davinci da850-evm Kernel is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference, which can lead to system crashes or potential security exploits. It is crucial to update the Kernel to version v5.4.190 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Users can also utilize the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if their system is affected and obtain further support for vulnerability remediation.
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FAQ
A NULL pointer dereference occurs when a program attempts to access or manipulate data using a pointer that points to no valid memory address (NULL). This can lead to crashes or potential security vulnerabilities.
The vulnerability can result in system crashes, impacting the stability and availability of the ARM davinci da850-evm platform. Additionally, if successfully exploited, it could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or perform other malicious activities.
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 Vulert will analyze it to identify any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.
Yes, a workaround involves avoiding the specific scenarios that trigger the NULL pointer dereference. However, it is recommended to apply the official fix by updating the Kernel to ensure comprehensive vulnerability mitigation.
You can find more information about this vulnerability, including technical details and the fix, in the vulnerability report available at https://github.com/cloudsecurityalliance/gsd-database/blob/main/2022/1002xxx/GSD-2022-1002159.json
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