CVE-2013-4483: Medium severity Linux Linux kernel vulnerability
A flaw was found in the way ipcrcuputref() function handled reference counter decrementing. Without external synchronization reference counter might not be adjusted properly, as presented with the freeque() vs domsgsnd() race, leading to memory leaks.
An unprivileged local user could use this flaw to cause OOM conditions, potentially crashing the system.
References: https://wiki.openvz.org/Download/kernel/rhel6-testing/042stab084.3
Upstream patch: http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=6062a8 (making the refcounter atomic hunks)
Acknowledgements:
Red Hat would like to thank Vladimir Davydov (Parallels) for reporting this issue.
Other sources
The ipcrcuputref function in ipc/util.c in the Linux kernel before 3.10 does not properly manage a reference count, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory consumption or system crash) via a crafted application.
— Launchpad
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
debian/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.10.223-1Fixed in 5.10.234-1Fixed in 6.1.129-1Fixed in 6.1.135-1Fixed in 6.12.25-1Fixed in 6.12.27-1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernelto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.10Patch 6062a8
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2013-4483?
CVE-2013-4483 is classified as a moderate severity vulnerability due to potential memory leaks from improper reference counter management.
How do I fix CVE-2013-4483?
To fix CVE-2013-4483, upgrade to a patched version of the Linux Kernel, specifically version 5.10.223-1 or later.
Who can exploit CVE-2013-4483?
An unprivileged local user can exploit CVE-2013-4483 by triggering race conditions in the kernel.
What systems are affected by CVE-2013-4483?
CVE-2013-4483 affects multiple versions of the Linux Kernel, including versions up to 3.9.11 and various 3.0 release candidates.
What types of vulnerabilities are related to CVE-2013-4483?
CVE-2013-4483 is related to race condition vulnerabilities that can lead to improper memory management and potential leakage.