5.5
MEDIUM
CVE-2020-36789
Linux Kernel CAN Network Stack NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability
Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb() during a hardware IRQ (which is often, but not always, the case), the 'WARN_ON(in_irq)' in net/core/skbuff.c#skb_release_head_state() might be triggered, under network congestion circumstances, together with the potential risk of a NULL pointer dereference. The root cause of this issue is the call to kfree_skb() instead of dev_kfree_skb_irq() in net/core/dev.c#enqueue_to_backlog(). This patch prevents the skb to be freed within the call to netif_rx() by incrementing its reference count with skb_get(). The skb is finally freed by one of the in-irq-context safe functions: dev_consume_skb_any() or dev_kfree_skb_any(). The "any" version is used because some drivers might call can_get_echo_skb() in a normal context. The reason for this issue to occur is that initially, in the core network stack, loopback skb were not supposed to be received in hardware IRQ context. The CAN stack is an exeption. This bug was previously reported back in 2017 in [1] but the proposed patch never got accepted. While [1] directly modifies net/core/dev.c, we try to propose here a smoother modification local to CAN network stack (the assumption behind is that only CAN devices are affected by this issue). [1] http://lore.kernel.org/r/[email protected]

INFO

Published Date :

April 17, 2025, 6:15 p.m.

Last Modified :

April 29, 2025, 6:55 p.m.

Source :

416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

Remotely Exploitable :

No

Impact Score :

3.6

Exploitability Score :

1.8
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2020-36789 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Linux linux_kernel

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2020-36789 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2020-36789 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Apr. 29, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
    Added CWE CWE-476
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.10:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.10:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 2.6.31 up to (excluding) 4.4.244 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 4.10 up to (excluding) 4.14.207 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 4.15 up to (excluding) 4.19.158 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 4.20 up to (excluding) 5.4.78 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 4.5 up to (excluding) 4.9.244 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 5.5 up to (excluding) 5.9.9
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2283f79b22684d2812e5c76fc2280aae00390365 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/248b71ce92d4f3a574b2537f9838f48e892618f4 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3a922a85701939624484e7f2fd07d32beed00d25 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/451187b20431924d13fcfecc500d7cd2d9951bac Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7e4cf2ec0ca236c3e5f904239cec6efe1f3baf22 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf47234574 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab46748bf98864f9c3f5559060bf8caf9df2b41e Types: Patch
  • New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Apr. 17, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb() during a hardware IRQ (which is often, but not always, the case), the 'WARN_ON(in_irq)' in net/core/skbuff.c#skb_release_head_state() might be triggered, under network congestion circumstances, together with the potential risk of a NULL pointer dereference. The root cause of this issue is the call to kfree_skb() instead of dev_kfree_skb_irq() in net/core/dev.c#enqueue_to_backlog(). This patch prevents the skb to be freed within the call to netif_rx() by incrementing its reference count with skb_get(). The skb is finally freed by one of the in-irq-context safe functions: dev_consume_skb_any() or dev_kfree_skb_any(). The "any" version is used because some drivers might call can_get_echo_skb() in a normal context. The reason for this issue to occur is that initially, in the core network stack, loopback skb were not supposed to be received in hardware IRQ context. The CAN stack is an exeption. This bug was previously reported back in 2017 in [1] but the proposed patch never got accepted. While [1] directly modifies net/core/dev.c, we try to propose here a smoother modification local to CAN network stack (the assumption behind is that only CAN devices are affected by this issue). [1] http://lore.kernel.org/r/[email protected]
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2283f79b22684d2812e5c76fc2280aae00390365
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/248b71ce92d4f3a574b2537f9838f48e892618f4
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3a922a85701939624484e7f2fd07d32beed00d25
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/451187b20431924d13fcfecc500d7cd2d9951bac
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7e4cf2ec0ca236c3e5f904239cec6efe1f3baf22
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf47234574
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab46748bf98864f9c3f5559060bf8caf9df2b41e
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2020-36789 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2020-36789 weaknesses.

CVSS31 - Vulnerability Scoring System
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Latest DB Update: Jun. 08, 2025 5:06