CVE-2019-18810 : What You Need to Know

A memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel prior to version 5.3.8 can lead to a denial of service attack due to excessive memory consumption.

Understanding CVE-2019-18810

This CVE involves a memory leak issue in the Linux kernel that can be exploited for a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2019-18810?

The vulnerability exists in the komeda_wb_connector_add() function in the Linux kernel, specifically in drivers/gpu/drm/arm/display/komeda/komeda_wb_connector.c. By triggering failures in drm_writeback_connector_init(), attackers can cause a denial of service by consuming excessive memory. The Common Identifier (CID) for this issue is a0ecd6fdbf5d.

The Impact of CVE-2019-18810

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in a denial of service attack on affected systems by causing them to consume excessive memory, potentially leading to system instability or crashes.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-18810

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is a memory leak issue in the komeda_wb_connector_add() function in the Linux kernel before version 5.3.8, allowing attackers to trigger failures in drm_writeback_connector_init() and cause a denial of service through memory consumption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected System: Linux kernel versions prior to 5.3.8
Affected Component: komeda_wb_connector_add() function in drivers/gpu/drm/arm/display/komeda/komeda_wb_connector.c

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering failures in the drm_writeback_connector_init() function, leading to excessive memory consumption and a denial of service condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-18810 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the latest security patches provided by the Linux kernel to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system resources for any signs of excessive memory consumption.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect and prevent unauthorized activities that could exploit memory-related vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Update the Linux kernel to version 5.3.8 or later to patch the memory leak vulnerability.
Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches to ensure system security.