In the Linux kernel, a medium-severity vulnerability (CVE-2022-50260) has been identified that allows for potential kernel panic during system shutdown. The vulnerability arises from inconsistent logic in the .remove and .shutdown callbacks within the msm drivers, creating overlap in hardware shutdown procedures. This inconsistency could lead to significant stability issues in systems utilizing these drivers.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. This score reflects the potential for high availability impact while maintaining a lower risk to confidentiality and integrity. Organizations should be aware that this flaw can lead to unexpected system crashes, particularly if expected sub-devices fail to probe correctly, preventing proper initialization.
Given the risk to stability, organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately. It is critical to ensure that systems are updated to prevent potential issues during shutdown processes and to maintain overall system integrity.
The vulnerability has been resolved in subsequent patches, but it remains essential for organizations to stay vigilant and apply updates consistently.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability description indicates that the .remove and .shutdown callbacks in the Linux kernel for msm drivers are executed on different code paths, leading to inconsistencies in how hardware shutdown is handled. This inconsistency can trigger kernel panic under certain conditions, particularly during system shutdown.
The official description specifies that the issue arises when the driver attempts to call drm_atomic_helper_shutdown() for a device that hasn't been properly initialized, which can occur if sub-devices fail to bind.
This vulnerability has been documented under the CVE identifier CVE-2022-50260, with a CVSS score of 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vulnerability affects various versions of the Linux kernel, specifically those between 4.14.197 and 6.0.3, among others.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inconsistent handling of hardware shutdown procedures within the msm drivers of the Linux kernel. The attack vector is classified as local, meaning an attacker would require local access to exploit this vulnerability, which could lead to a kernel panic.
The attack complexity is low, indicating that an attacker may exploit this vulnerability with minimal effort. The privileges required to exploit this vulnerability are low, meaning that an attacker does not need extensive access rights to trigger the issue.
User interaction is not required to exploit this vulnerability, which increases the risk for affected organizations. The availability impact is classified as high due to the potential for system crashes during shutdown procedures, while confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated as none.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential system outages and instability due to kernel panic during shutdown. The availability of systems may be severely affected, leading to downtime that can disrupt services and impact business operations.
Organizations should assess the deployment of affected Linux kernel versions in their environment and prioritize patching efforts to mitigate this vulnerability. Given the availability impact, this vulnerability should be addressed in the priority patch cycle.
The potential blast radius of this vulnerability is significant, as it affects a broad range of Linux kernel versions. Organizations using these kernels should take immediate action to apply relevant patches and updates.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Linux kernel, specifically:
1. Versions from 4.14.197 to below 4.15 2. Versions from 4.19.144 to below 4.20 3. Versions from 5.4.64 to below 5.5 4. Versions from 5.8.8 to below 5.9 5. Versions from 5.9.1 to below 5.19.17 6. Versions from 6.0 to below 6.0.3
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching the Linux kernel to the latest stable version that addresses this vulnerability. Regular updates and security patches are essential to maintain system integrity and prevent potential downtime.
If immediate patching is not possible, organizations should implement workarounds such as monitoring system logs for errors related to hardware shutdowns and applying configuration hardening techniques to minimize the risk of exploitation.
Continuous penetration testing can also help identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure that security measures are effective.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor system logs for abnormal shutdown sequences, errors related to DRM devices, and any kernel panic messages. Behavioral anomalies during shutdown processes should also be flagged for review.
Network signatures that indicate unusual shutdown activity can also aid in the detection of attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2022-50260 lies in its demonstration of the need for consistent callback logic within critical system drivers. This vulnerability represents a broader pattern of inconsistencies that can lead to significant system vulnerabilities.
Security teams must remain vigilant in identifying and addressing similar vulnerabilities in the future. This incident highlights the importance of robust testing and validation processes during driver development.
Organizations should consider implementing a vulnerability management program to systematically address vulnerabilities and enhance their security posture.
Additionally, organizations can benefit from learning about penetration testing methodologies that help to uncover potential weaknesses and improve overall security.
By adopting a proactive security approach, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities impacting their systems in the future.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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