Linux Kernel RTL8180 Wireless Driver Memory Leak Vulnerability

A memory leak vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel's RTL8180 wireless driver. The issue arises in the 'rtl8180_init_rx_ring' function, where memory is allocated for SKB packets and DMA operations within a loop. If a memory allocation fails, the function exits without freeing the previously allocated memory, leading to a potential memory leak. This vulnerability affects the Linux kernel stable tree.

Impact

The vulnerability can lead to memory leaks, causing increased memory usage over time and potentially leading to memory exhaustion.

Reproduction

The vulnerability can be reproduced by loading the RTL8180 wireless driver in the Linux kernel stable tree. When the driver initializes the receive ring buffer, it allocates memory for SKB packets and DMA operations. If any allocation fails, the function exits without freeing the previously allocated memory, creating a memory leak.

Remediation

The vulnerability has been fixed in the Linux kernel stable tree. Users can upgrade to the latest version to address this issue.