#VU91663 Memory leak in Linux kernel - CVE-2021-46917

Vulnerability identifier: #VU91663

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 4.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-46917

CWE-ID: CWE-401

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to gain access to sensitive information.

The vulnerability exists due to memory leak within the disable_wq() function in drivers/dma/idxd/sysfs.c, within the idxd_wq_drain(), idxd_wq_unmap_portal(), idxd_wq_disable_cleanup() and idxd_wq_config_write() functions in drivers/dma/idxd/device.c. A local user can gain access to sensitive information.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: All versions

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External links
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5eb9757fe4c2392e069246ae78badc573af1833
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f7dc8f5619165e1fa3383d0c2519f502d9e2a1a9
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ea9aadc06a9f10ad20a90edc0a484f1147d88a7a

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.