5.5
MEDIUM
CVE-2021-47546
Linux Kernel IPv6 Nftables Memory Leak Vulnerability
Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: fix memory leak in fib6_rule_suppress The kernel leaks memory when a `fib` rule is present in IPv6 nftables firewall rules and a suppress_prefix rule is present in the IPv6 routing rules (used by certain tools such as wg-quick). In such scenarios, every incoming packet will leak an allocation in `ip6_dst_cache` slab cache. After some hours of `bpftrace`-ing and source code reading, I tracked down the issue to ca7a03c41753 ("ipv6: do not free rt if FIB_LOOKUP_NOREF is set on suppress rule"). The problem with that change is that the generic `args->flags` always have `FIB_LOOKUP_NOREF` set[1][2] but the IPv6-specific flag `RT6_LOOKUP_F_DST_NOREF` might not be, leading to `fib6_rule_suppress` not decreasing the refcount when needed. How to reproduce: - Add the following nftables rule to a prerouting chain: meta nfproto ipv6 fib saddr . mark . iif oif missing drop This can be done with: sudo nft create table inet test sudo nft create chain inet test test_chain '{ type filter hook prerouting priority filter + 10; policy accept; }' sudo nft add rule inet test test_chain meta nfproto ipv6 fib saddr . mark . iif oif missing drop - Run: sudo ip -6 rule add table main suppress_prefixlength 0 - Watch `sudo slabtop -o | grep ip6_dst_cache` to see memory usage increase with every incoming ipv6 packet. This patch exposes the protocol-specific flags to the protocol specific `suppress` function, and check the protocol-specific `flags` argument for RT6_LOOKUP_F_DST_NOREF instead of the generic FIB_LOOKUP_NOREF when decreasing the refcount, like this. [1]: https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/ca7a03c4175366a92cee0ccc4fec0038c3266e26/net/ipv6/fib6_rules.c#L71 [2]: https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/ca7a03c4175366a92cee0ccc4fec0038c3266e26/net/ipv6/fib6_rules.c#L99

INFO

Published Date :

May 24, 2024, 3:15 p.m.

Last Modified :

June 10, 2024, 6:30 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-2021-47546 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
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

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-2021-47546 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2021-47546 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.

  • CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Jun. 17, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Jun. 10, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
    Changed Reference Type https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/209d35ee34e25f9668c404350a1c86d914c54ffa No Types Assigned https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/209d35ee34e25f9668c404350a1c86d914c54ffa Patch
    Changed Reference Type https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ef8a76a340ebdb2c2eea3f6fb0ebbed09a16383 No Types Assigned https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ef8a76a340ebdb2c2eea3f6fb0ebbed09a16383 Patch
    Changed Reference Type https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cdef485217d30382f3bf6448c54b4401648fe3f1 No Types Assigned https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cdef485217d30382f3bf6448c54b4401648fe3f1 Patch
    Changed Reference Type https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee38eb8cf9a7323884c2b8e0adbbeb2192d31e29 No Types Assigned https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee38eb8cf9a7323884c2b8e0adbbeb2192d31e29 Patch
    Added CWE NIST CWE-401
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 5.4 up to (excluding) 5.4.164 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 5.5 up to (excluding) 5.10.84 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 5.11 up to (excluding) 5.15.7
  • CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    May. 28, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
  • CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    May. 24, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: fix memory leak in fib6_rule_suppress The kernel leaks memory when a `fib` rule is present in IPv6 nftables firewall rules and a suppress_prefix rule is present in the IPv6 routing rules (used by certain tools such as wg-quick). In such scenarios, every incoming packet will leak an allocation in `ip6_dst_cache` slab cache. After some hours of `bpftrace`-ing and source code reading, I tracked down the issue to ca7a03c41753 ("ipv6: do not free rt if FIB_LOOKUP_NOREF is set on suppress rule"). The problem with that change is that the generic `args->flags` always have `FIB_LOOKUP_NOREF` set[1][2] but the IPv6-specific flag `RT6_LOOKUP_F_DST_NOREF` might not be, leading to `fib6_rule_suppress` not decreasing the refcount when needed. How to reproduce: - Add the following nftables rule to a prerouting chain: meta nfproto ipv6 fib saddr . mark . iif oif missing drop This can be done with: sudo nft create table inet test sudo nft create chain inet test test_chain '{ type filter hook prerouting priority filter + 10; policy accept; }' sudo nft add rule inet test test_chain meta nfproto ipv6 fib saddr . mark . iif oif missing drop - Run: sudo ip -6 rule add table main suppress_prefixlength 0 - Watch `sudo slabtop -o | grep ip6_dst_cache` to see memory usage increase with every incoming ipv6 packet. This patch exposes the protocol-specific flags to the protocol specific `suppress` function, and check the protocol-specific `flags` argument for RT6_LOOKUP_F_DST_NOREF instead of the generic FIB_LOOKUP_NOREF when decreasing the refcount, like this. [1]: https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/ca7a03c4175366a92cee0ccc4fec0038c3266e26/net/ipv6/fib6_rules.c#L71 [2]: https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/ca7a03c4175366a92cee0ccc4fec0038c3266e26/net/ipv6/fib6_rules.c#L99
    Added Reference kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee38eb8cf9a7323884c2b8e0adbbeb2192d31e29 [No types assigned]
    Added Reference kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/209d35ee34e25f9668c404350a1c86d914c54ffa [No types assigned]
    Added Reference kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ef8a76a340ebdb2c2eea3f6fb0ebbed09a16383 [No types assigned]
    Added Reference kernel.org https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cdef485217d30382f3bf6448c54b4401648fe3f1 [No types assigned]
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-2021-47546 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-2021-47546 weaknesses.

CVSS31 - Vulnerability Scoring System
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