CVE-2020-36766 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel before 5.8.6. This vulnerability in drivers/media/cec/core/cec-api.c can lead to the leakage of one byte of kernel memory to unprivileged users on specific hardware due to a direct assignment with a hole in the struct.

Understanding CVE-2020-36766

This CVE identifies a memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel that can be exploited by unprivileged users.

What is CVE-2020-36766?

The vulnerability in drivers/media/cec/core/cec-api.c allows unprivileged users to access one byte of kernel memory on specific hardware by directly assigning log_addrs with a hole in the struct.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36766

This vulnerability could potentially be exploited by attackers to gain sensitive information from the kernel memory, compromising system security and integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36766

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a memory leak in the Linux kernel before version 5.8.6, specifically in the drivers/media/cec/core/cec-api.c file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Versions: All versions before Linux kernel 5.8.6

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability on specific hardware by directly assigning log_addrs with a hole in the struct, leading to the leakage of one byte of kernel memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-36766 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the Linux kernel community to fix the memory leak vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version to ensure all security patches are applied.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential memory leaks.

Patching and Updates

Update to Linux kernel version 5.8.6 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent unauthorized access to kernel memory.