In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
xfrm: Update ipcomp_scratches with NULL when freed
Currently if ipcomp_alloc_scratches() fails to allocate memory ipcomp_scratches holds obsolete address. So when we try to free the percpu scratches using ipcomp_free_scratches() it tries to vfree non existent vm area. Described below:
static void * __percpu *ipcomp_alloc_scratches(void) { ... scratches = alloc_percpu(void *); if (!scratches) return NULL; ipcomp_scratches does not know about this allocation failure. Therefore holding the old obsolete address. ... }
So when we free,
static void ipcomp_free_scratches(void) { ... scratches = ipcomp_scratches; Assigning obsolete address from ipcomp_scratches
if (!scratches)
return;
for_each_possible_cpu(i)
vfree(*per_cpu_ptr(scratches, i));
Trying to free non existent page, causing warning: trying to vfree existent vm area. ... }
Fix this breakage by updating ipcomp_scrtches with NULL when scratches is freed