Linux Kernel get_vdev_port_node_info Denial of Service Vulnerability [CVE-2019-12615]

CVE Number – CVE-2019-12615

A vulnerability in the Linux Kernel could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on a targeted system.

The vulnerability exists in the get_vdev_port_node_info function, as defined in the arch/sparc/kernel/mdesc.c source code file of the affected software, and is due to an unchecked kstrdup_const of node_info->vdev_port.name. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a request that submits malicious input to the targeted system. An exploit could trigger a NULL pointer dereference condition that causes the system to crash, resulting in a DoS condition.Kernel.org has confirmed the vulnerability and released software updates.

Analysis

• To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must send a request that submits malicious input to the targeted system, making exploitation more difficult in environments that restrict network access from untrusted sources.

Safeguards

• Administrators are advised to apply the appropriate updates.
  
  Administrators are advised to allow only trusted users to have network access.
  
  Administrators are advised to run both firewall and antivirus applications to minimize the potential of inbound and outbound threats.
  
  Administrators may consider using IP-based access control lists (ACLs) to allow only trusted systems to access the affected systems.
  
  Administrators can help protect affected systems from external attacks by using a solid firewall strategy.
  
  Administrators are advised to monitor affected systems.

Vendor Announcements

• Kernel.org has released a git commit at the following link: commit 80caf43549e7e41a695c6d1e11066286538b336f

Fixed Software

• Kernel.org has released a software patch at the following link: mdesc: fix a missing-check bug in get_vdev_port_node_info()