Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

padata: Fix refcnt handling in padata_free_shell()

In a high-load arm64 environment, the pcrypt_aead01 test in LTP can lead
to system UAF (Use-After-Free) issues. Due to the lengthy analysis of
the pcrypt_aead01 function call, I'll describe the problem scenario
using a simplified model:

Suppose there's a user of padata named `user_function` that adheres to
the padata requirement of calling `padata_free_shell` after `serial()`
has been invoked, as demonstrated in the following code:

```c
struct request {
struct padata_priv padata;
struct completion *done;
};

void parallel(struct padata_priv *padata) {
do_something();
}

void serial(struct padata_priv *padata) {
struct request *request = container_of(padata,
struct request,
padata);
complete(request->done);
}

void user_function() {
DECLARE_COMPLETION(done)
padata->parallel = parallel;
padata->serial = serial;
padata_do_parallel();
wait_for_completion(&done);
padata_free_shell();
}
```

In the corresponding padata.c file, there's the following code:

```c
static void padata_serial_worker(struct work_struct *serial_work) {
...
cnt = 0;

while (!list_empty(&local_list)) {
...
padata->serial(padata);
cnt++;
}

local_bh_enable();

if (refcount_sub_and_test(cnt, &pd->refcnt))
padata_free_pd(pd);
}
```

Because of the high system load and the accumulation of unexecuted
softirq at this moment, `local_bh_enable()` in padata takes longer
to execute than usual. Subsequently, when accessing `pd->refcnt`,
`pd` has already been released by `padata_free_shell()`, resulting
in a UAF issue with `pd->refcnt`.

The fix is straightforward: add `refcount_dec_and_test` before calling
`padata_free_pd` in `padata_free_shell`.
Published: 2024-05-21
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7874-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7874-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7874-3 Linux kernel (IoT) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7939-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7939-2 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
History

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-11T19:34:18.503Z

Reserved: 2024-05-21T15:19:24.256Z

Link: CVE-2023-52854

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2024-08-02T23:11:36.064Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2024-05-21T16:15:22.377

Modified: 2025-02-03T16:13:08.960

Link: CVE-2023-52854

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2024-05-21T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2023-52854 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses