In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
tracing: Fix use-after-free in print_graph_function_flags during tracer switching
Kairui reported a UAF issue in print_graph_function_flags() during
ftrace stress testing [1]. This issue can be reproduced if puting a
'mdelay(10)' after 'mutex_unlock(&trace_types_lock)' in s_start(),
and executing the following script:
$ echo function_graph > current_tracer
$ cat trace > /dev/null &
$ sleep 5 # Ensure the 'cat' reaches the 'mdelay(10)' point
$ echo timerlat > current_tracer
The root cause lies in the two calls to print_graph_function_flags
within print_trace_line during each s_show():
* One through 'iter->trace->print_line()';
* Another through 'event->funcs->trace()', which is hidden in
print_trace_fmt() before print_trace_line returns.
Tracer switching only updates the former, while the latter continues
to use the print_line function of the old tracer, which in the script
above is print_graph_function_flags.
Moreover, when switching from the 'function_graph' tracer to the
'timerlat' tracer, s_start only calls graph_trace_close of the
'function_graph' tracer to free 'iter->private', but does not set
it to NULL. This provides an opportunity for 'event->funcs->trace()'
to use an invalid 'iter->private'.
To fix this issue, set 'iter->private' to NULL immediately after
freeing it in graph_trace_close(), ensuring that an invalid pointer
is not passed to other tracers. Additionally, clean up the unnecessary
'iter->private = NULL' during each 'cat trace' when using wakeup and
irqsoff tracers.
[1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20231112150030.84609-1-ryncsn@gmail.com/
Publication date: Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:11:00 +0000