CVE-2021-47097: Vulnerability in Linux Linux

Severity: highType: vulnerabilityCVE-2021-47097

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Input: elantech - fix stack out of bound access in elantech_change_report_id() The array param[] in elantech_change_report_id() must be at least 3 bytes, because elantech_read_reg_params() is calling ps2_command() with PSMOUSE_CMD_GETINFO, that is going to access 3 bytes from param[], but it's defined in the stack as an array of 2 bytes, therefore we have a potential stack out-of-bounds access here, also confirmed by KASAN: [ 6.512374] BUG: KASAN: stack-out-of-bounds in __ps2_command+0x372/0x7e0 [ 6.512397] Read of size 1 at addr ffff8881024d77c2 by task kworker/2:1/118 [ 6.512416] CPU: 2 PID: 118 Comm: kworker/2:1 Not tainted 5.13.0-22-generic #22+arighi20211110 [ 6.512428] Hardware name: LENOVO 20T8000QGE/20T8000QGE, BIOS R1AET32W (1.08 ) 08/14/2020 [ 6.512436] Workqueue: events_long serio_handle_event [ 6.512453] Call Trace: [ 6.512462] show_stack+0x52/0x58 [ 6.512474] dump_stack+0xa1/0xd3 [ 6.512487] print_address_description.constprop.0+0x1d/0x140 [ 6.512502] ? __ps2_command+0x372/0x7e0 [ 6.512516] __kasan_report.cold+0x7d/0x112 [ 6.512527] ? _raw_write_lock_irq+0x20/0xd0 [ 6.512539] ? __ps2_command+0x372/0x7e0 [ 6.512552] kasan_report+0x3c/0x50 [ 6.512564] __asan_load1+0x6a/0x70 [ 6.512575] __ps2_command+0x372/0x7e0 [ 6.512589] ? ps2_drain+0x240/0x240 [ 6.512601] ? dev_printk_emit+0xa2/0xd3 [ 6.512612] ? dev_vprintk_emit+0xc5/0xc5 [ 6.512621] ? __kasan_check_write+0x14/0x20 [ 6.512634] ? mutex_lock+0x8f/0xe0 [ 6.512643] ? __mutex_lock_slowpath+0x20/0x20 [ 6.512655] ps2_command+0x52/0x90 [ 6.512670] elantech_ps2_command+0x4f/0xc0 [psmouse] [ 6.512734] elantech_change_report_id+0x1e6/0x256 [psmouse] [ 6.512799] ? elantech_report_trackpoint.constprop.0.cold+0xd/0xd [psmouse] [ 6.512863] ? ps2_command+0x7f/0x90 [ 6.512877] elantech_query_info.cold+0x6bd/0x9ed [psmouse] [ 6.512943] ? elantech_setup_ps2+0x460/0x460 [psmouse] [ 6.513005] ? psmouse_reset+0x69/0xb0 [psmouse] [ 6.513064] ? psmouse_attr_set_helper+0x2a0/0x2a0 [psmouse] [ 6.513122] ? phys_pmd_init+0x30e/0x521 [ 6.513137] elantech_init+0x8a/0x200 [psmouse] [ 6.513200] ? elantech_init_ps2+0xf0/0xf0 [psmouse] [ 6.513249] ? elantech_query_info+0x440/0x440 [psmouse] [ 6.513296] ? synaptics_send_cmd+0x60/0x60 [psmouse] [ 6.513342] ? elantech_query_info+0x440/0x440 [psmouse] [ 6.513388] ? psmouse_try_protocol+0x11e/0x170 [psmouse] [ 6.513432] psmouse_extensions+0x65d/0x6e0 [psmouse] [ 6.513476] ? psmouse_try_protocol+0x170/0x170 [psmouse] [ 6.513519] ? mutex_unlock+0x22/0x40 [ 6.513526] ? ps2_command+0x7f/0x90 [ 6.513536] ? psmouse_probe+0xa3/0xf0 [psmouse] [ 6.513580] psmouse_switch_protocol+0x27d/0x2e0 [psmouse] [ 6.513624] psmouse_connect+0x272/0x530 [psmouse] [ 6.513669] serio_driver_probe+0x55/0x70 [ 6.513679] really_probe+0x190/0x720 [ 6.513689] driver_probe_device+0x160/0x1f0 [ 6.513697] device_driver_attach+0x119/0x130 [ 6.513705] ? device_driver_attach+0x130/0x130 [ 6.513713] __driver_attach+0xe7/0x1a0 [ 6.513720] ? device_driver_attach+0x130/0x130 [ 6.513728] bus_for_each_dev+0xfb/0x150 [ 6.513738] ? subsys_dev_iter_exit+0x10/0x10 [ 6.513748] ? _raw_write_unlock_bh+0x30/0x30 [ 6.513757] driver_attach+0x2d/0x40 [ 6.513764] serio_handle_event+0x199/0x3d0 [ 6.513775] process_one_work+0x471/0x740 [ 6.513785] worker_thread+0x2d2/0x790 [ 6.513794] ? process_one_work+0x740/0x740 [ 6.513802] kthread+0x1b4/0x1e0 [ 6.513809] ? set_kthread_struct+0x80/0x80 [ 6.513816] ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30 [ 6.513832] The buggy address belongs to the page: [ 6.513838] page:00000000bc35e189 refcount:0 mapcount:0 mapping:0000000000000000 index:0x0 pfn:0x1024d7 [ 6.513847] flags: 0x17ffffc0000000(node=0|zone=2|lastcpupid=0x1fffff) [ 6.513860] raw: 0 ---truncated---

AI Analysis

Technical Summary

CVE-2021-47097 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the elantech driver component that handles input devices such as touchpads. The issue arises from a stack out-of-bounds access in the function elantech_change_report_id(). The root cause is that the array param[], which is used to store parameters for PS/2 commands, is defined as a 2-byte array on the stack but is accessed for at least 3 bytes by the function elantech_read_reg_params() when it calls ps2_command() with the PSMOUSE_CMD_GETINFO command. This discrepancy leads to a potential stack buffer overflow condition. The vulnerability was confirmed by Kernel Address Sanitizer (KASAN) reports, which detected out-of-bounds reads during kernel operations involving the elantech driver. The stack trace indicates that the issue occurs during the initialization and handling of PS/2 mouse devices, particularly on hardware such as Lenovo laptops using the affected kernel versions. This vulnerability could potentially lead to kernel memory corruption, causing system instability, crashes (kernel panic), or potentially enabling privilege escalation if exploited. However, no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions prior to the patch and is relevant to systems using the elantech PS/2 driver for input devices.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-47097 could be significant in environments where Linux-based systems are deployed on hardware utilizing the elantech PS/2 input driver, such as certain Lenovo laptops and other devices with similar touchpad hardware. Exploitation could lead to denial of service through kernel crashes or potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, compromising system confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This is particularly critical for organizations relying on Linux servers, workstations, or embedded systems in operational technology, industrial control systems, or critical infrastructure sectors. The vulnerability could disrupt business operations, lead to data breaches, or facilitate lateral movement within networks if exploited. Although no active exploits are known, the presence of a kernel-level memory corruption bug warrants immediate attention due to the high potential impact on system security and stability.

Mitigation Recommendations

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernel to versions where this vulnerability is patched. Since the issue is in the elantech PS/2 driver, organizations should: 1) Identify and inventory Linux systems running affected kernel versions, especially on hardware known to use elantech touchpads (e.g., Lenovo laptops). 2) Apply official Linux kernel patches or upgrade to the latest stable kernel releases that include the fix for CVE-2021-47097. 3) For systems where immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling the elantech PS/2 driver module if the hardware allows alternative input device drivers or USB input devices to mitigate risk. 4) Monitor kernel logs for KASAN or related error messages indicating attempts to exploit this vulnerability. 5) Implement strict access controls and limit user privileges on affected systems to reduce the risk of exploitation. 6) Employ kernel hardening techniques such as Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR) and Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI) to reduce exploitability. 7) Maintain up-to-date intrusion detection and endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous kernel activity.