CVE-2023-53419

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

rcu: Protect rcu_print_task_exp_stall() ->exp_tasks access

For kernels built with CONFIG_PREEMPT_RCU=y, the following scenario can result in a NULL-pointer dereference:

       CPU1                                           CPU2

rcu_preempt_deferred_qs_irqrestore rcu_print_task_exp_stall if (special.b.blocked) READ_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks) != NULL raw_spin_lock_rcu_node np = rcu_next_node_entry(t, rnp) if (&t->rcu_node_entry == rnp->exp_tasks) WRITE_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks, np) …. raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore_rcu_node raw_spin_lock_irqsave_rcu_node t = list_entry(rnp->exp_tasks->prev, struct task_struct, rcu_node_entry) (if rnp->exp_tasks is NULL, this will dereference a NULL pointer)

The problem is that CPU2 accesses the rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks field without holding the rcu_node structure's ->lock and CPU2 did not observe CPU1's change to rcu_node structure's ->exp_tasks in time. Therefore, if CPU1 sets rcu_node structure's->exp_tasks pointer to NULL, then CPU2 might dereference that NULL pointer.

This commit therefore holds the rcu_node structure's ->lock while accessing that structure's->exp_tasks field.

[ paulmck: Apply Frederic Weisbecker feedback. ]

Affected Software

VendorProductVersion RangeStatus
LinuxLinux314eeb43e5f22856b281c91c966e51e5782a3498 < a7d21b8585894e6fff973f6ddae42f02b13f600faffected
LinuxLinux314eeb43e5f22856b281c91c966e51e5782a3498 < e30a55e98ae6c44253d8b129efefd5da5bc6e3bcaffected
LinuxLinux314eeb43e5f22856b281c91c966e51e5782a3498 < d0a8c0e31a09ec1efd53079083e2a677956b4d91affected
LinuxLinux314eeb43e5f22856b281c91c966e51e5782a3498 < 2bc0ae94ef1f9ed322d8ee439de3239ea3632ab2affected
LinuxLinux314eeb43e5f22856b281c91c966e51e5782a3498 < 3c1566bca3f8349f12b75d0a2d5e4a20ad6262ecaffected
LinuxLinux5.8affected
LinuxLinux0 < 5.8unaffected
LinuxLinux5.10.181 <= 5.10.*unaffected
LinuxLinux5.15.113 <= 5.15.*unaffected
LinuxLinux6.1.30 <= 6.1.*unaffected
LinuxLinux6.3.4 <= 6.3.*unaffected
LinuxLinux6.4 <= *unaffected

Weaknesses

ADP Enrichment

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

  • SSVC:
  • Exploitation: none
    • Automatable: no
    • Technical Impact: partial

References