CVE-2024-53053 - Fixing Deadlock in the Linux Kernel During SCSI UFS Core RTC Update

Content: The Linux kernel is a crucial part of any Linux-based operating system, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Recently, the kernel community has been alerted to a vulnerability that could potentially cause problems for many users. Specifically, the vulnerability pertains to the SCSI UFS (Universal Flash Storage) Core, wherein a deadlock could occur during a Real-Time Clock (RTC) update.

The commit that addresses this issue can be found here, and is summarized below:

scsi: ufs: core: Fix another deadlock during RTC update

Replace ufshcd_rpm_put_sync() with ufshcd_rpm_put() to avoid the deadlock.

In simpler terms, a deadlock situation occurs when two or more processes are waiting for each other to release a resource, causing all of the processes to be stuck indefinitely. In this particular case, the deadlock would happen if the function ufshcd_rtc_work calls ufshcd_rpm_put_sync(), and Power Manager's (pm) usage_count is zero. As a result, the runtime suspend callback would be entered, but it would be waiting to flush the ufshcd_rtc_work, leading to a deadlock.

Exploit Details

If an attacker were to exploit this vulnerability, they could potentially cause the targeted system to hang or crash, disrupting its normal functionality and leading to other security issues.

To mitigate this problem, the developers have replaced the ufshcd_rpm_put_sync() function with the ufshcd_rpm_put() function. By doing this, the deadlock situation is avoided, and the system can continue functioning as intended.

Patching Your System

If you are using a Linux-based system, it is highly recommended that you apply the necessary patches to your kernel to prevent this vulnerability from causing any issues. As always, make sure to backup your data and consult with your system administrator or distribution guidelines before attempting any kernel updates.

For more information and further technical details, please consult the following resources

- Linux Kernel Mailing List
- The Commit That Fixes This Vulnerability
- CVE-2024-53053

To ensure that your system remains secure and up-to-date, always apply the latest security patches and follow best practices for system administration. By doing so, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to various security vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 11/19/2024 18:15:25 UTC
Last modified on: 11/22/2024 17:09:28 UTC