Race Condition in Linux Kernel Affecting Memory Management

CVE-2023-53614

What is CVE-2023-53614?

A race condition exists in the Linux kernel's memory management functionality, particularly during the teardown of Virtual Memory Areas (VMAs) while holding the mmap_lock in write mode. This vulnerability can lead to scenarios where an iterator may attempt to dereference a maple tree structure that has already been destroyed, causing potential instability in the memory management subsystem. The issue has been addressed by implementing checks to ensure the integrity of the maple tree before proceeding with VMA iteration, thus enhancing the overall stability and security of the Linux kernel.

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