From: Seunghun Han kkamagui@gmail.com
[ Upstream commit bed18f0bdcd6737a938264a59d67923688696fc4 ]
ACPICA commit 8829e70e1360c81e7a5a901b5d4f48330e021ea5
I'm Seunghun Han, and I work for National Security Research Institute of South Korea.
I have been doing a research on ACPI and found an ACPI cache leak in ACPI early abort cases.
Boot log of ACPI cache leak is as follows: [ 0.352414] ACPI: Added _OSI(Module Device) [ 0.353182] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Device) [ 0.353182] ACPI: Added _OSI(3.0 _SCP Extensions) [ 0.353182] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Aggregator Device) [ 0.356028] ACPI: Unable to start the ACPI Interpreter [ 0.356799] ACPI Error: Could not remove SCI handler (20170303/evmisc-281) [ 0.360215] kmem_cache_destroy Acpi-State: Slab cache still has objects [ 0.360648] CPU: 0 PID: 1 Comm: swapper/0 Tainted: G W 4.12.0-rc4-next-20170608+ #10 [ 0.361273] Hardware name: innotek gmb_h virtual_box/virtual_box, BIOS virtual_box 12/01/2006 [ 0.361873] Call Trace: [ 0.362243] ? dump_stack+0x5c/0x81 [ 0.362591] ? kmem_cache_destroy+0x1aa/0x1c0 [ 0.362944] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 [ 0.363296] ? acpi_os_delete_cache+0xa/0x10 [ 0.363646] ? acpi_ut_delete_caches+0x6d/0x7b [ 0.364000] ? acpi_terminate+0xa/0x14 [ 0.364000] ? acpi_init+0x2af/0x34f [ 0.364000] ? __class_create+0x4c/0x80 [ 0.364000] ? video_setup+0x7f/0x7f [ 0.364000] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 [ 0.364000] ? do_one_initcall+0x4e/0x1a0 [ 0.364000] ? kernel_init_freeable+0x189/0x20a [ 0.364000] ? rest_init+0xc0/0xc0 [ 0.364000] ? kernel_init+0xa/0x100 [ 0.364000] ? ret_from_fork+0x25/0x30
I analyzed this memory leak in detail. I found that “Acpi-State” cache and “Acpi-Parse” cache were merged because the size of cache objects was same slab cache size.
I finally found “Acpi-Parse” cache and “Acpi-parse_ext” cache were leaked using SLAB_NEVER_MERGE flag in kmem_cache_create() function.
Real ACPI cache leak point is as follows: [ 0.360101] ACPI: Added _OSI(Module Device) [ 0.360101] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Device) [ 0.360101] ACPI: Added _OSI(3.0 _SCP Extensions) [ 0.361043] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Aggregator Device) [ 0.364016] ACPI: Unable to start the ACPI Interpreter [ 0.365061] ACPI Error: Could not remove SCI handler (20170303/evmisc-281) [ 0.368174] kmem_cache_destroy Acpi-Parse: Slab cache still has objects [ 0.369332] CPU: 1 PID: 1 Comm: swapper/0 Tainted: G W 4.12.0-rc4-next-20170608+ #8 [ 0.371256] Hardware name: innotek gmb_h virtual_box/virtual_box, BIOS virtual_box 12/01/2006 [ 0.372000] Call Trace: [ 0.372000] ? dump_stack+0x5c/0x81 [ 0.372000] ? kmem_cache_destroy+0x1aa/0x1c0 [ 0.372000] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 [ 0.372000] ? acpi_os_delete_cache+0xa/0x10 [ 0.372000] ? acpi_ut_delete_caches+0x56/0x7b [ 0.372000] ? acpi_terminate+0xa/0x14 [ 0.372000] ? acpi_init+0x2af/0x34f [ 0.372000] ? __class_create+0x4c/0x80 [ 0.372000] ? video_setup+0x7f/0x7f [ 0.372000] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 [ 0.372000] ? do_one_initcall+0x4e/0x1a0 [ 0.372000] ? kernel_init_freeable+0x189/0x20a [ 0.372000] ? rest_init+0xc0/0xc0 [ 0.372000] ? kernel_init+0xa/0x100 [ 0.372000] ? ret_from_fork+0x25/0x30 [ 0.388039] kmem_cache_destroy Acpi-parse_ext: Slab cache still has objects [ 0.389063] CPU: 1 PID: 1 Comm: swapper/0 Tainted: G W 4.12.0-rc4-next-20170608+ #8 [ 0.390557] Hardware name: innotek gmb_h virtual_box/virtual_box, BIOS virtual_box 12/01/2006 [ 0.392000] Call Trace: [ 0.392000] ? dump_stack+0x5c/0x81 [ 0.392000] ? kmem_cache_destroy+0x1aa/0x1c0 [ 0.392000] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 [ 0.392000] ? acpi_os_delete_cache+0xa/0x10 [ 0.392000] ? acpi_ut_delete_caches+0x6d/0x7b [ 0.392000] ? acpi_terminate+0xa/0x14 [ 0.392000] ? acpi_init+0x2af/0x34f [ 0.392000] ? __class_create+0x4c/0x80 [ 0.392000] ? video_setup+0x7f/0x7f [ 0.392000] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 [ 0.392000] ? do_one_initcall+0x4e/0x1a0 [ 0.392000] ? kernel_init_freeable+0x189/0x20a [ 0.392000] ? rest_init+0xc0/0xc0 [ 0.392000] ? kernel_init+0xa/0x100 [ 0.392000] ? ret_from_fork+0x25/0x30
When early abort is occurred due to invalid ACPI information, Linux kernel terminates ACPI by calling acpi_terminate() function. The function calls acpi_ut_delete_caches() function to delete local caches (acpi_gbl_namespace_ cache, state_cache, operand_cache, ps_node_cache, ps_node_ext_cache).
But the deletion codes in acpi_ut_delete_caches() function only delete slab caches using kmem_cache_destroy() function, therefore the cache objects should be flushed before acpi_ut_delete_caches() function.
"Acpi-Parse" cache and "Acpi-ParseExt" cache are used in an AML parse function, acpi_ps_parse_loop(). The function should complete all ops using acpi_ps_complete_final_op() when an error occurs due to invalid AML codes. However, the current implementation of acpi_ps_complete_final_op() does not complete all ops when it meets some errors and this cause cache leak.
This cache leak has a security threat because an old kernel (<= 4.9) shows memory locations of kernel functions in stack dump. Some malicious users could use this information to neutralize kernel ASLR.
To fix ACPI cache leak for enhancing security, I made a patch to complete all ops unconditionally for acpi_ps_complete_final_op() function.
I hope that this patch improves the security of Linux kernel.
Thank you.
Link: https://github.com/acpica/acpica/commit/8829e70e Signed-off-by: Seunghun Han kkamagui@gmail.com Signed-off-by: Rafael J. Wysocki rafael.j.wysocki@intel.com Link: https://patch.msgid.link/2363774.ElGaqSPkdT@rjwysocki.net Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin sashal@kernel.org ---
**YES** This commit should be backported to stable kernel trees based on comprehensive analysis of both the commit message and code changes: ## Security Impact Analysis The commit fixes a critical **memory cache leak that poses a security threat**: - The leak exposes kernel function memory locations in stack dumps on older kernels (≤ 4.9) - This information can be exploited to neutralize **kernel ASLR** (Address Space Layout Randomization) - The researcher specifically mentions this creates a security vulnerability that malicious users could exploit ## Bug Analysis The commit addresses **"Acpi-Parse" and "Acpi-ParseExt" cache leaks** that occur during ACPI early abort scenarios: 1. **Root Cause**: In `acpi_ps_complete_final_op()`, when errors occur during AML parsing, the function would exit early without properly cleaning up all parse operations 2. **Leak Mechanism**: The original code had multiple early return paths that bypassed the cleanup loop, leaving parse cache objects unfreed 3. **Trigger Conditions**: Invalid/malicious ACPI tables causing parse errors ## Code Changes Analysis The fix in `drivers/acpi/acpica/psobject.c` is **well-contained and minimal**: **Key changes:** 1. **Eliminates early returns**: Replaces immediate `return_ACPI_STATUS()` calls with flag setting (`ascending = FALSE`) 2. **Ensures complete cleanup**: All ops are now processed through `acpi_ps_complete_this_op()` unconditionally 3. **Preserves error reporting**: Uses `return_status` to track the first/most important error while continuing cleanup 4. **Maintains logic flow**: The cleanup loop now always runs to completion, preventing cache leaks **Specific improvements:** - Lines 674-701: Instead of immediate return on `AE_CTRL_TERMINATE`, sets `ascending = FALSE` and continues - Lines 704-712: On parse failures, sets `ascending = FALSE` and continues instead of returning early - Lines 715-719: Always calls `acpi_ps_complete_this_op()` and tracks errors without early exit ## Backport Suitability Assessment **✅ Meets stable tree criteria:** 1. **Important bug fix**: Fixes memory leaks with security implications 2. **Minimal risk**: Changes are confined to error handling paths in ACPI parser 3. **Small and contained**: Only 50 lines changed in a single function 4. **No architectural changes**: Preserves existing API and behavior 5. **Clear regression prevention**: Ensures proper resource cleanup in error cases **✅ Historical precedent**: The kernel tree shows **multiple similar ACPI cache leak fixes by the same security researcher** (Seunghun Han) that were backported: - `3b2d69114fef` - "ACPICA: Namespace: fix operand cache leak" - `97f3c0a4b057` - "ACPICA: acpi: acpica: fix acpi operand cache leak in nseval.c" **✅ Risk assessment:** - **Low regression risk**: Only affects error paths during ACPI parse failures - **No functional changes**: Normal ACPI parsing behavior unchanged - **Defensive programming**: Makes cleanup more robust without changing success paths The commit represents a textbook example of a stable-tree appropriate fix: it addresses an important security-related memory leak with minimal, well-contained changes that improve robustness without introducing new functionality or architectural modifications.
drivers/acpi/acpica/psobject.c | 52 ++++++++++------------------------ 1 file changed, 15 insertions(+), 37 deletions(-)
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/psobject.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/psobject.c index 2480c26c51710..bf708126a7523 100644 --- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/psobject.c +++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/psobject.c @@ -636,7 +636,8 @@ acpi_status acpi_ps_complete_final_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state, union acpi_parse_object *op, acpi_status status) { - acpi_status status2; + acpi_status return_status = status; + u8 ascending = TRUE;
ACPI_FUNCTION_TRACE_PTR(ps_complete_final_op, walk_state);
@@ -650,7 +651,7 @@ acpi_ps_complete_final_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state, op)); do { if (op) { - if (walk_state->ascending_callback != NULL) { + if (ascending && walk_state->ascending_callback != NULL) { walk_state->op = op; walk_state->op_info = acpi_ps_get_opcode_info(op->common. @@ -672,49 +673,26 @@ acpi_ps_complete_final_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state, }
if (status == AE_CTRL_TERMINATE) { - status = AE_OK; - - /* Clean up */ - do { - if (op) { - status2 = - acpi_ps_complete_this_op - (walk_state, op); - if (ACPI_FAILURE - (status2)) { - return_ACPI_STATUS - (status2); - } - } - - acpi_ps_pop_scope(& - (walk_state-> - parser_state), - &op, - &walk_state-> - arg_types, - &walk_state-> - arg_count); - - } while (op); - - return_ACPI_STATUS(status); + ascending = FALSE; + return_status = AE_CTRL_TERMINATE; }
else if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
/* First error is most important */
- (void) - acpi_ps_complete_this_op(walk_state, - op); - return_ACPI_STATUS(status); + ascending = FALSE; + return_status = status; } }
- status2 = acpi_ps_complete_this_op(walk_state, op); - if (ACPI_FAILURE(status2)) { - return_ACPI_STATUS(status2); + status = acpi_ps_complete_this_op(walk_state, op); + if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) { + ascending = FALSE; + if (ACPI_SUCCESS(return_status) || + return_status == AE_CTRL_TERMINATE) { + return_status = status; + } } }
@@ -724,5 +702,5 @@ acpi_ps_complete_final_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state,
} while (op);
- return_ACPI_STATUS(status); + return_ACPI_STATUS(return_status); }