CVE-2022-50526
📋 TL;DR
A memory corruption vulnerability in the Linux kernel's DisplayPort driver allows attackers to write beyond allocated buffer boundaries when too many bridges are connected. This affects Linux systems using the MSM DisplayPort driver, potentially leading to system crashes or arbitrary code execution.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with MSM DisplayPort driver
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic, system crash, or arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges leading to complete system compromise.
Likely Case
System instability, crashes, or denial of service when connecting multiple DisplayPort bridges.
If Mitigated
Minor system instability or crashes requiring physical access to trigger.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires physical access to connect multiple bridges or local system access to trigger the condition.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits 74466e46e7543c7f74f1502181e9ba93f7521374 or b312fcab461bd9484c61409007a6fe059f9c2074
Vendor Advisory: https://patchwork.freedesktop.org/patch/502664/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Limit bridge connections
linuxAvoid connecting more than 8 DisplayPort bridges to affected systems
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict physical access to DisplayPort ports
- Disable MSM DisplayPort driver if not needed
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and verify if it contains the fix commits: uname -r and check kernel source or distribution patch notesCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated and contains the fix commits, then test with multiple bridges📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- OOPs messages related to drm/msm/dp
- System crash reports
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel panic events or system crashes with drm/msm/dp in stack traces