CVE-2023-53360
Description
From CVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: NFSv4.2: Rework scratch handling for READ_PLUS (again) I found that the read code might send multiple requests using the same nfs_pgio_header, but nfs4_proc_read_setup() is only called once. This is how we ended up occasionally double-freeing the scratch buffer, but also means we set a NULL pointer but non-zero length to the xdr scratch buffer. This results in an oops the first time decoding needs to copy something to scratch, which frequently happens when decoding READ_PLUS hole segments. I fix this by moving scratch handling into the pageio read code. I provide a function to allocate scratch space for decoding read replies, and free the scratch buffer when the nfs_pgio_header is freed.
Statement
A flaw in the NFSv4.2 client’s READ_PLUS handling could double-free the XDR scratch buffer or pass a NULL pointer with a non-zero length, leading to kernel oops during reply decoding (hole segments). The fix moves scratch management into the page-IO read path, allocating with a fixed size and freeing only when the pgio header is released, eliminating both double-free and NULL-deref scenarios. Impact is a potential client-side DoS, possibly triggerable by a malicious or buggy NFS server. While the bug is a double-free/NULL dereference and in theory could be abused as a memory corruption issue, in practice it only manifests as a client-side crash (DoS). Exploitation for code execution is not considered realistic.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 5.9 | 5.5 | 9.8 |
| Attack Vector | Network | Local | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | Low | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | Low | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | None | High |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | High |
| Availability Impact | High | High | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Modify Memory; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
When a program calls free() twice with the same argument, the program's memory management data structures may become corrupted, potentially leading to the reading or modification of unexpected memory addresses. This corruption can cause the program to crash or, in some circumstances, cause two later calls to malloc() to return the same pointer. If malloc() returns the same value twice and the program later gives the attacker control over the data that is written into this doubly-allocated memory, the program becomes vulnerable to a buffer overflow attack. Doubly freeing memory may result in a write-what-where condition, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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