CVE-2019-12382 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel version up to 5.1.5 that could lead to a denial of service due to a NULL pointer dereference.

Understanding CVE-2019-12382

This CVE involves an issue in the Linux kernel that could potentially be exploited by an attacker to crash the system.

What is CVE-2019-12382?

The vulnerability exists in the function drm_load_edid_firmware in the Linux kernel's drivers/gpu/drm/drm_edid_load.c file. It stems from an unchecked duplication of the fwstr string using kstrdup().

The Impact of CVE-2019-12382

If successfully exploited, an attacker could trigger a denial of service by causing a NULL pointer dereference, leading to a system crash. However, the vendor disputes this as not being a vulnerability, claiming that measures are in place to handle the possibility of kstrdup() returning NULL.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12382

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an unchecked duplication of the fwstr string using kstrdup(), potentially allowing an attacker to crash the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected systems: Linux kernel versions up to 5.1.5
Affected component: function drm_load_edid_firmware in drivers/gpu/drm/drm_edid_load.c

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating the fwstr string to trigger a NULL pointer dereference and crash the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-12382 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor vendor updates and patches related to the Linux kernel to address this vulnerability.
Implement additional security measures to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version to ensure security patches are applied.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about patches and updates released by the Linux kernel vendor to address the vulnerability.