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GHSA-8x8h-8p2w-8g4f

GitHub Security Advisory

⚠ Unreviewed MODERATE Has CVE

Advisory Details

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

bpf: Fix racing between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free and bpf_timer_cancel

The following race is possible between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free
and bpf_timer_cancel. It will lead a UAF on the timer->timer.

bpf_timer_cancel();
spin_lock();
t = timer->time;
spin_unlock();

bpf_timer_cancel_and_free();
spin_lock();
t = timer->timer;
timer->timer = NULL;
spin_unlock();
hrtimer_cancel(&t->timer);
kfree(t);

/* UAF on t */
hrtimer_cancel(&t->timer);

In bpf_timer_cancel_and_free, this patch frees the timer->timer
after a rcu grace period. This requires a rcu_head addition
to the "struct bpf_hrtimer". Another kfree(t) happens in bpf_timer_init,
this does not need a kfree_rcu because it is still under the
spin_lock and timer->timer has not been visible by others yet.

In bpf_timer_cancel, rcu_read_lock() is added because this helper
can be used in a non rcu critical section context (e.g. from
a sleepable bpf prog). Other timer->timer usages in helpers.c
have been audited, bpf_timer_cancel() is the only place where
timer->timer is used outside of the spin_lock.

Another solution considered is to mark a t->flag in bpf_timer_cancel
and clear it after hrtimer_cancel() is done. In bpf_timer_cancel_and_free,
it busy waits for the flag to be cleared before kfree(t). This patch
goes with a straight forward solution and frees timer->timer after
a rcu grace period.

Related CVEs

Key Information

GHSA ID
GHSA-8x8h-8p2w-8g4f
Published
April 3, 2024 6:30 PM
Last Modified
November 4, 2024 9:30 PM
CVSS Score
5.0 /10
Primary Ecosystem
Unknown
Primary Package
Unknown
GitHub Reviewed
✗ No

Dataset

Last updated: June 15, 2025 6:12 AM

Data from GitHub Advisory Database. This information is provided for research and educational purposes.