CyberRota Analysis
AI-GeneratedThe vulnerability affects the Linux kernel's handling of character pointer parameters, specifically within the `param_set_charp()` function, which can lead to a NULL pointer dereference if memory allocation fails during parameter updates. This flaw can cause system instability and potential crashes, particularly impacting systems utilizing zswap compression. Linux system administrators and developers should prioritize addressing this issue to prevent unexpected kernel panics and ensure system reliability.
Original NVD Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: params: fix charp corruption on allocation failure param_set_charp() stores charp parameters in allocated memory after slab is available, and releases the previous value when the parameter is updated. The previous value is released before the replacement allocation succeeds. If kmalloc_parameter() fails, the setter returns -ENOMEM with the parameter left as NULL. Failing zswap's compressor update before zswap is initialized can later trigger: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 RIP: 0010:strcmp+0x10/0x30 Call Trace: zswap_setup+0x3b1/0x490 zswap_enabled_param_set+0x5b/0xa0 param_attr_store+0x93/0xe0 module_attr_store+0x1c/0x30 kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x116/0x1f0 Allocate and copy the replacement first, then replace the parameter value only after allocation succeeds.