padata: Fix refcnt handling in padata_free_shell()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: padata: Fix refcnt handling in padata_free_shell() In a high-load arm64 environment, the pcrypt_aead01 test in LTP can lead to system UAF (Use-After-Free) issues. Due to the lengthy analysis of the pcrypt_aead01 function call, I'll describe the problem scenario using a simplified model: Suppose there's a user of padata named `user_function` that adheres to the padata requirement of calling `padata_free_shell` after `serial()` has been invoked, as demonstrated in the following code: ```c struct request { struct padata_priv padata; struct completion *done; }; void parallel(struct padata_priv *padata) { do_something(); } void serial(struct padata_priv *padata) { struct request *request = container_of(padata, struct request, padata); complete(request->done); } void user_function() { DECLARE_COMPLETION(done) padata->parallel = parallel; padata->serial = serial; padata_do_parallel(); wait_for_completion(&done); padata_free_shell(); } ``` In the corresponding padata.c file, there's the following code: ```c static void padata_serial_worker(struct work_struct *serial_work) { ... cnt = 0; while (!list_empty(&local_list)) { ... padata->serial(padata); cnt++; } local_bh_enable(); if (refcount_sub_and_test(cnt, &pd->refcnt)) padata_free_pd(pd); } ``` Because of the high system load and the accumulation of unexecuted softirq at this moment, `local_bh_enable()` in padata takes longer to execute than usual. Subsequently, when accessing `pd->refcnt`, `pd` has already been released by `padata_free_shell()`, resulting in a UAF issue with `pd->refcnt`. The fix is straightforward: add `refcount_dec_and_test` before calling `padata_free_pd` in `padata_free_shell`.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.16.84 to before 3.17; 4.4.215 to before 4.5; 4.9.215 to before 4.10; 4.14.172 to before 4.15; 4.19.103 to before 4.20; 5.4.19 to before 5.5; 5.5.3 to before 5.6 | 3.17, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 5.5, 5.6 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 5.6 and later | 5.10.201, 5.15.139, 6.1.63, 6.5.12, 6.6.2, 6.7 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.16.84 to before 3.17; 4.4.215 to before 4.5; 4.9.215 to before 4.10; 4.14.172 to before 4.15; 4.19.103 to before 4.20; 5.4.19 to before 5.5; 5.5.3 to before 5.6 Fixed in 3.17, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 5.5, 5.6 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.6 and later Fixed in 5.10.201, 5.15.139, 6.1.63, 6.5.12, 6.6.2, 6.7 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.16.84 to before 3.17; 4.4.215 to before 4.5; 4.9.215 to before 4.10; 4.14.172 to before 4.15; 4.19.103 to before 4.20; 5.4.19 to before 5.5; 5.5.3 to before 5.10.201; 5.11 to before 5.15.139; 5.16 to before 6.1.63; 6.2 to before 6.5.12; 6.6 to before 6.6.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.16.84 to before 3.17; 4.4.215 to before 4.5; 4.9.215 to before 4.10; 4.14.172 to before 4.15; 4.19.103 to before 4.20; 5.4.19 to before 5.5; 5.5.3 to before 5.10.201; 5.11 to before 5.15.139; 5.16 to before 6.1.63; 6.2 to before 6.5.12; 6.6 to before 6.6.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.17, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 5.5, 5.6
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.201, 5.15.139, 6.1.63, 6.5.12, 6.6.2, 6.7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-52854
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gj4h-wmhg-vp66
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41aad9d6953984d134fc50f631f24ef476875d4d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0dd34a7ad395dbcf6ae60e48e9786050e25b9bc5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c7c26d0ef5d20f00dbb2ae3befcabbe0efa77275
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e901bcb8af19416b65f5063a4af7996e5a51d7f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1734a79e951914f1db2c65e635012a35db1c674b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ddc21e317b360c3444de3023bcc83b85fabae2f
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- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2023-52854 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-52854 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gj4h-wmhg-vp66 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-52854 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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