Linux Kernel ASP Chip Affinity Reprogramming Crash Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's handling of the ASP chip, an older variant of the GSP chip used in HP 730 workstations, has been addressed. The issue arose when the kernel attempted to reprogram the chip's affinity, leading to a crash due to a Hardware Programmed Machine Check (HPMC). This crash occurred because the relevant registers were not in their usual locations. The kernel now avoids this crash by checking the chip's version, as reprogramming is unnecessary on the single-CPU HP 730.

Impact

The vulnerability could cause a system crash by triggering a Hardware Programmed Machine Check (HPMC) error, disrupting system operations and potentially leading to data loss or corruption.

Reproduction

The vulnerability can be reproduced by attempting to reprogram the affinity of the ASP chip in an HP 730 workstation. This action will result in a crash, as the chip's registers are not in their expected locations, causing a Hardware Programmed Machine Check (HPMC) error.

Remediation

Users can update to the latest version of the Linux kernel where this vulnerability has been fixed. Instructions for downloading the patched version are available on the Linux kernel's official website.