CVE-2022-48725 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
RDMA/siw: Fix refcounting leak in siw_create_qp()
The atomic_inc() needs to be paired with an atomic_dec() on the error path.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-48725 represents a critical reference counting issue within the Linux kernel's RDMA software interface implementation. This flaw exists specifically within the siw_create_qp() function which handles the creation of queue pairs in the software interface for RDMA operations. The vulnerability stems from improper atomic reference counting management that fails to maintain consistency between increment and decrement operations during error handling scenarios. The root cause lies in the absence of proper atomic_dec() calls when error conditions occur after atomic_inc() has been executed, leading to a memory leak through persistent reference count values that never decrement to zero.
This issue falls under the category of improper atomic operation handling and can be classified as a CWE-664: Improper Control of a Resource Through Time, specifically manifesting as a resource leak through reference counting mechanisms. The vulnerability impacts the RDMA software interface subsystem which is part of the broader RDMA architecture used for high-performance network communication in enterprise and data center environments. The flaw affects systems utilizing software implementations of RDMA protocols, particularly those implementing the siw (Software Interface for RDMA) component that provides RDMA functionality through software rather than hardware acceleration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory consumption issues to potentially compromise system stability and performance in environments heavily reliant on RDMA operations. When the error path is triggered during queue pair creation, the reference counting mechanism fails to properly release resources, causing persistent memory allocation that accumulates over time. This can lead to gradual memory exhaustion, system slowdowns, or in severe cases, system crashes or denial of service conditions affecting network communication services. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in high-throughput environments where RDMA operations occur frequently and error conditions may be encountered during normal operation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate kernel updates from vendors that address the specific reference counting issue in the siw_create_qp() function. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running kernel versions containing the vulnerable RDMA software interface implementation. The fix involves ensuring that every atomic_inc() operation is properly paired with an atomic_dec() on all code paths including error conditions, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004: File and Directory Permissions Modification to maintain proper resource management. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns in systems utilizing RDMA software interfaces, as this vulnerability may manifest through gradual resource degradation rather than immediate system failure. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of similar reference counting vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.