Use-after-free Vulnerability in Linux Kernel Affects Mellanox Devices

CVE-2023-53398

What is CVE-2023-53398?

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel was discovered that can lead to a use-after-free condition in Mellanox devices. This issue arises when FIFO indexes are not properly validated during pop operations, particularly during a re-sync action. If a queue is empty, the lack of checks can result in unintended memory access, enabling potential exploitation. To mitigate this, specific checks and counters have been implemented to prevent the resync operation from occurring if the socket buffer (SKB) cannot exist in the FIFO due to out-of-order complete queue entries (CQE), ensuring proper management of FIFO pointers.

References