CVE-2023-53419

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

rcu: Protect rcu_print_task_exp_stall() ->exp_tasks access

For kernels built with CONFIG_PREEMPT_RCU=y, the following scenario can result in a NULL-pointer dereference:

       CPU1                                           CPU2

rcu_preempt_deferred_qs_irqrestore rcu_print_task_exp_stall if (special.b.blocked) READ_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks) != NULL raw_spin_lock_rcu_node np = rcu_next_node_entry(t, rnp) if (&t->rcu_node_entry == rnp->exp_tasks) WRITE_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks, np) …. raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore_rcu_node raw_spin_lock_irqsave_rcu_node t = list_entry(rnp->exp_tasks->prev, struct task_struct, rcu_node_entry) (if rnp->exp_tasks is NULL, this will dereference a NULL pointer)

The problem is that CPU2 accesses the rcu_node structures->exp_tasks field without holding the rcu_node structures ->lock and CPU2 did not observe CPU1s change to rcu_node structures ->exp_tasks in time. Therefore, if CPU1 sets rcu_node structures->exp_tasks pointer to NULL, then CPU2 might dereference that NULL pointer.

This commit therefore holds the rcu_node structures ->lock while accessing that structures->exp_tasks field.

[ paulmck: Apply Frederic Weisbecker feedback. ]

Affected Software

References

• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2bc0ae94ef1f9ed322d8ee439de3239ea3632ab2
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c1566bca3f8349f12b75d0a2d5e4a20ad6262ec
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7d21b8585894e6fff973f6ddae42f02b13f600f
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0a8c0e31a09ec1efd53079083e2a677956b4d91
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e30a55e98ae6c44253d8b129efefd5da5bc6e3bc