CVE-2024-50021 ice: Fix improper handling of refcount in ice_dpll_init_rclk_pins()
A reference count leak in the Intel ice network driver can lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service.
- 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-2024-50021?
CVE-2024-50021 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Oct 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:
ice: Fix improper handling of refcount in ice_dpll_init_rclk_pins()
This patch addresses a reference count handling issue in the ice_dpll_init_rclk_pins() function. The function calls ice_dpll_get_pins(), which increments the reference count of the relevant resources. However, if the condition WARN_ON((!vsi || !vsi->netdev)) is met, the function currently returns an error without properly releasing the resources acquired by ice_dpll_get_pins(), leading to a reference count leak.
To resolve this, the check has been moved to the top of the function. This ensures that the function verifies the state before any resources are acquired, avoiding the need for additional resource management in the error path.
This bug was identified by an experimental static analysis tool developed by our team. The tool specializes in analyzing reference count operations and detecting potential issues where resources are not properly managed. In this case, the tool flagged the missing release operation as a potential problem, which led to the development of this patch.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-50021?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2024-50021?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2024-50021 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-50021 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2024-50021, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-50021, GHSA-r7rc-x5fw-x42q, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-50021.