CVE-2016-9685

Multiple memory leaks in error paths in fs/xfs/xfs_attr_list.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5.1 allow local users to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via crafted XFS filesystem operations.

Weakness

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.

Affected Software

Potential Mitigations

• Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:

• The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.

• The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.

Related Attack Patterns

• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/147.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/227.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/492.html

References

• http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=2e83b79b2d6c78bf1b4aa227938a214dcbddc83f
• http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.1
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/30/1
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94593
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1842
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2077
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2669
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1396941
• https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/2e83b79b2d6c78bf1b4aa227938a214dcbddc83f
• http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=2e83b79b2d6c78bf1b4aa227938a214dcbddc83f
• http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.1
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/30/1
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94593
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1842
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2077
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2669
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1396941
• https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/2e83b79b2d6c78bf1b4aa227938a214dcbddc83f