Source URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-50252
Source: Hacker News
Title: A new vulnerability on IPv6 parsing in linux
Feedly Summary: Comments
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text details a recently resolved memory leak vulnerability (CVE-2024-50252) in the Linux kernel associated with the `mlxsw` driver when handling remote IPv6 addresses. This vulnerability presents significant implications for IT security and infrastructure management, demanding prompt attention from security professionals and system administrators.
Detailed Description:
– **Vulnerability Overview**:
– The vulnerability was identified in the `mlxsw` driver of the Linux kernel, specifically related to updating remote IPv6 addresses for devices configured with `ip6gre` (IPv6 Generic Routing Encapsulation).
– The defect resulted in a memory leak when the remote IPv6 address was changed due to improper handling of address references.
– **Technical Details**:
– When changing the remote address of a net device, the new address was not being correctly added to the device’s hash table, leading to a memory leak.
– The driver failed to release the old address before allocating a new one, causing an increase in unreferenced memory.
– The issue would surface during specific commands (`ip link add`, `ip link set`, and `ip link del`), resulting in system warnings and performance degradation.
– **Risk Assessment**:
– This memory leak could potentially lead to denial-of-service conditions if the unreferenced memory accumulates and exhausts system resources.
– The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.x score with the following severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`, indicating a high impact on availability if exploited.
– **Mitigation**:
– Users of affected Linux kernel versions are advised to update their systems with the latest patches that resolve this vulnerability.
– Regular monitoring of system resources should be maintained to preemptively identify memory leaks and other performance-related issues.
– **References**:
– Several references to patches and more detailed technical notes are provided in the text, leading to official kernel.org documentation which can serve as a resource for implementing fixes.
Overall, this vulnerability highlights the importance of timely updates in maintaining the security and efficiency of critical network infrastructure, especially in environments relying on Linux-based systems for operational support. Security professionals and system administrators must be vigilant in applying patches to prevent exploitation and mitigate potential risks.