CVE-2019-19080 : What You Need to Know

Four memory leaks in the nfp_flower_spawn_phy_reprs() function in the Linux kernel before version 5.3.4 can lead to a denial of service attack due to excessive memory consumption.

Understanding CVE-2019-19080

This CVE identifies memory leak vulnerabilities in a specific function within the Linux kernel, potentially enabling a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2019-19080?

The CVE-2019-19080 vulnerability involves memory leaks in the nfp_flower_spawn_phy_reprs() function in the Linux kernel, allowing attackers to exhaust system memory resources, leading to a denial of service condition.

The Impact of CVE-2019-19080

The exploitation of these memory leaks can result in a significant increase in memory usage, potentially causing system instability and performance degradation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-19080

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability resides in the nfp_flower_spawn_phy_reprs() function within the Linux kernel, impacting versions prior to 5.3.4. Attackers can exploit this flaw to trigger a denial of service attack by consuming excessive memory resources.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vulnerable Systems: Linux kernel versions before 5.3.4
Affected Function: nfp_flower_spawn_phy_reprs() in drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.c

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the memory leaks in the identified function to exhaust system memory, leading to a denial of service scenario.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-19080 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to Linux kernel version 5.3.4 or later to mitigate the vulnerability
Monitor system memory usage for any unusual spikes

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly apply security patches and updates to the Linux kernel
Implement memory management best practices to prevent memory leaks

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers to address the memory leak vulnerabilities