Linux Kernel up to 5.10.36/5.11.20/5.12.3 xiic pm_runtime_get_sync memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.36/5.11.20/5.12.3. This impacts the function pm_runtime_get_sync of the component xiic. The manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2020-36778. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.36/5.11.20/5.12.3 (Operating System) and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function pm_runtime_get_sync of the component xiic. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: i2c: xiic: fix reference leak when pm_runtime_get_sync fails The PM reference count is not expected to be incremented on return in xiic_xfer and xiic_i2c_remove. However, pm_runtime_get_sync will increment the PM reference count even failed. Forgetting to putting operation will result in a reference leak here. Replace it with pm_runtime_resume_and_get to keep usage counter balanced.

The weakness was released 02/28/2024. It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2020-36778 since 02/26/2024. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 250229 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2020-36778), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.37, 5.11.21, 5.12.4 or 5.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c977426db644/e2ba996577ea/a42ac16e6573/a85c5c7a3aa8 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (250229). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.0
• 5.10.1
• 5.10.2
• 5.10.3
• 5.10.4
• 5.10.5
• 5.10.6
• 5.10.7
• 5.10.8
• 5.10.9
• 5.10.10
• 5.10.11
• 5.10.12
• 5.10.13
• 5.10.14
• 5.10.15
• 5.10.16
• 5.10.17
• 5.10.18
• 5.10.19
• 5.10.20
• 5.10.21
• 5.10.22
• 5.10.23
• 5.10.24
• 5.10.25
• 5.10.26
• 5.10.27
• 5.10.28
• 5.10.29
• 5.10.30
• 5.10.31
• 5.10.32
• 5.10.33
• 5.10.34
• 5.10.35
• 5.10.36
• 5.11.0
• 5.11.1
• 5.11.2
• 5.11.3
• 5.11.4
• 5.11.5
• 5.11.6
• 5.11.7
• 5.11.8
• 5.11.9
• 5.11.10
• 5.11.11
• 5.11.12
• 5.11.13
• 5.11.14
• 5.11.15
• 5.11.16
• 5.11.17
• 5.11.18
• 5.11.19
• 5.11.20
• 5.12.0
• 5.12.1
• 5.12.2
• 5.12.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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CPE 2.2info

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Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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