CVE-2022-48801 iio: buffer: Fix file related error handling in IIO_BUFFER_GET_FD_IOCTL
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's IIO buffer subsystem allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges via improper error handling.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2022-48801?
CVE-2022-48801 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Jul 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
iio: buffer: Fix file related error handling in IIO_BUFFER_GET_FD_IOCTL
If we fail to copy the just created file descriptor to userland, we try to clean up by putting back 'fd' and freeing 'ib'. The code uses put_unused_fd() for the former which is wrong, as the file descriptor was already published by fd_install() which gets called internally by anon_inode_getfd().
This makes the error handling code leaving a half cleaned up file descriptor table around and a partially destructed 'file' object, allowing userland to play use-after-free tricks on us, by abusing the still usable fd and making the code operate on a dangling 'file->private_data' pointer.
Instead of leaving the kernel in a partially corrupted state, don't attempt to explicitly clean up and leave this to the process exit path that'll release any still valid fds, including the one created by the previous call to anon_inode_getfd(). Simply return -EFAULT to indicate the error.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-48801?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2022-48801?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2022-48801 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-48801 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2022-48801, GHSA-wwf4-95qp-r9vg, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-48801.