CVE-2019-15217 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel prior to version 5.2.3. The presence of a malicious USB device triggers a NULL pointer dereference within the driver located at drivers/media/usb/zr364xx/zr364xx.c.

Understanding CVE-2019-15217

This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in the Linux kernel that allows a NULL pointer dereference when a malicious USB device is connected.

What is CVE-2019-15217?

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel, before version 5.2.3, can be exploited by a specially crafted USB device to trigger a NULL pointer dereference, leading to a denial of service or potential arbitrary code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2019-15217

The impact of this vulnerability includes the possibility of a denial of service (DoS) attack or potential execution of arbitrary code by an attacker with physical access to the system through a malicious USB device.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-15217

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is caused by a NULL pointer dereference within the driver located at drivers/media/usb/zr364xx/zr364xx.c when a malicious USB device is connected to the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Linux kernel versions prior to 5.2.3 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by connecting a specially crafted USB device to the system, triggering the NULL pointer dereference within the mentioned driver.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-15217, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Linux kernel to version 5.2.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid connecting untrusted USB devices to the system to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the system and kernel to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement strict USB device usage policies and restrict access to only trusted devices.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers to address this vulnerability and enhance system security.