Memory exhaustion via unreleased GSS domain references
Published May 5, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024
Memory leak in Linux kernel 5.6.10 and earlier allows local users to exhaust memory through rpcsec_gss_krb5 module unloads. gss_mech_free in net/sunrpc/auth_gss/gss_mech_switch.c omits required domain_release calls during module unload, retaining domain references and consuming kernel memory. Exploitation requires privileges to load and unload kernel modules; the dispute notes those privileges already permit deliberate memory exhaustion.
Summary
What happened
Memory leak in Linux kernel 5.6.10 and earlier allows local users to exhaust memory through rpcsec_gss_krb5 module unloads. gss_mech_free in net/sunrpc/auth_gss/gss_mech_switch.c omits required domain_release calls during module unload, retaining domain references and consuming kernel memory. Exploitation requires privileges to load and unload kernel modules; the dispute notes those privileges already permit deliberate memory exhaustion.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-12656
- Published
- May 5, 2020
- Updated
- Aug 4, 2024
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-401, T1499.001
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 5, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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