CVE-2019-11486 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Multiple race conditions exist in the Siemens R3964 line discipline driver, specifically within the drivers/tty/n_r3964.c file of the Linux kernel version prior to 5.0.8.

Understanding CVE-2019-11486

What is CVE-2019-11486?

The CVE-2019-11486 vulnerability involves multiple race conditions in the Siemens R3964 line discipline driver within the Linux kernel.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11486

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to exploit the race conditions, potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) or escalation of privileges on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11486

Vulnerability Description

The Siemens R3964 line discipline driver in drivers/tty/n_r3964.c in the Linux kernel before 5.0.8 has multiple race conditions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions prior to 5.0.8.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the race conditions in the Siemens R3964 line discipline driver to launch DoS attacks or potentially gain elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers.
Monitor official sources for updates and security advisories related to this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized system access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches released by the Linux kernel development team to address CVE-2019-11486.