In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ceph: fix UAF in __kick_flushing_caps() on cf entry freed during unlock
list_for_each_entry() iterates ci->i_cap_flush_list but drops
i_ceph_lock to send cap messages. During the unlock window,
handle_cap_flush_ack() can acquire i_ceph_lock, detach cf entries
with tid i_list.next
on freed memory.
The race timeline:
__kick_flushing_caps() handle_cap_flush_ack()
———————– ———————–
holds i_ceph_lock <—
iterates to cf (tid=10)
prepares FLUSH message
drops i_ceph_lock acquires i_ceph_lock
cf->tid(10) <= flush_tid(10),
detaches cf from i_cap_flush_list
drops i_ceph_lock
ceph_free_cap_flush(cf) <- frees it!
acquires i_ceph_lock i_list.next
The cf was just sent by __kick_flushing_caps itself via __send_cap().
The MDS may respond with FLUSH_ACK quickly enough that
handle_cap_flush_ack() frees cf before __kick_flushing_caps can
finish the iteration.
Fix by converting to a manual while loop: save the next pointer
under i_ceph_lock before dropping it, then use the saved pointer
after reacquiring, so the potentially-freed cf is never accessed again.
