CVE-2021-47034: powerpc/64s: Fix pte update for kernel memory on radix
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
powerpc/64s: Fix pte update for kernel memory on radix
When adding a PTE a ptesync is needed to order the update of the PTE
with subsequent accesses otherwise a spurious fault may be raised.
radix__set_pte_at() does not do this for performance gains. For
non-kernel memory this is not an issue as any faults of this kind are
corrected by the page fault handler. For kernel memory these faults
are not handled. The current solution is that there is a ptesync in
flush_cache_vmap() which should be called when mapping from the
vmalloc region.
However, map_kernel_page() does not call flush_cache_vmap(). This is
troublesome in particular for code patching with Strict RWX on radix.
In do_patch_instruction() the page frame that contains the instruction
to be patched is mapped and then immediately patched. With no ordering
or synchronization between setting up the PTE and writing to the page
it is possible for faults.
As the code patching is done using __put_user_asm_goto() the resulting
fault is obscured - but using a normal store instead it can be seen:
BUG: Unable to handle kernel data access on write at 0xc008000008f24a3c
Faulting instruction address: 0xc00000000008bd74
Oops: Kernel access of bad area, sig: 11 [#1]
LE PAGE_SIZE=64K MMU=Radix SMP NR_CPUS=2048 NUMA PowerNV
Modules linked in: nop_module(PO+) [last unloaded: nop_module]
CPU: 4 PID: 757 Comm: sh Tainted: P O 5.10.0-rc5-01361-ge3c1b78c8440-dirty #43
NIP: c00000000008bd74 LR: c00000000008bd50 CTR: c000000000025810
REGS: c000000016f634a0 TRAP: 0300 Tainted: P O (5.10.0-rc5-01361-ge3c1b78c8440-dirty)
MSR: 9000000000009033 <SF,HV,EE,ME,IR,DR,RI,LE> CR: 44002884 XER: 00000000
CFAR: c00000000007c68c DAR: c008000008f24a3c DSISR: 42000000 IRQMASK: 1
This results in the kind of issue reported here:
https://lore.kernel.org/linuxppc-dev/15AC5B0E-A221-4B8C-9039-FA96B8EF7C88@lca.pw/
Chris Riedl suggested a reliable way to reproduce the issue:
$ mount -t debugfs none /sys/kernel/debug
$ (while true; do echo function > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/current_tracer ; echo nop > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/current_tracer ; done) &
Turning ftrace on and off does a large amount of code patching which
in usually less then 5min will crash giving a trace like:
ftrace-powerpc: (____ptrval____): replaced (4b473b11) != old (60000000)
------------[ ftrace bug ]------------
ftrace failed to modify
[<c000000000bf8e5c>] napi_busy_loop+0xc/0x390
actual: 11:3b:47:4b
Setting ftrace call site to call ftrace function
ftrace record flags: 80000001
(1)
expected tramp: c00000000006c96c
------------[ cut here ]------------
WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 809 at kernel/trace/ftrace.c:2065 ftrace_bug+0x28c/0x2e8
Modules linked in: nop_module(PO-) [last unloaded: nop_module]
CPU: 4 PID: 809 Comm: sh Tainted: P O 5.10.0-rc5-01360-gf878ccaf250a #1
NIP: c00000000024f334 LR: c00000000024f330 CTR: c0000000001a5af0
REGS: c000000004c8b760 TRAP: 0700 Tainted: P O (5.10.0-rc5-01360-gf878ccaf250a)
MSR: 900000000282b033 <SF,HV,VEC,VSX,EE,FP,ME,IR,DR,RI,LE> CR: 28008848 XER: 20040000
CFAR: c0000000001a9c98 IRQMASK: 0
GPR00: c00000000024f330 c000000004c8b9f0 c000000002770600 0000000000000022
GPR04: 00000000ffff7fff c000000004c8b6d0 0000000000000027 c0000007fe9bcdd8
GPR08: 0000000000000023 ffffffffffffffd8 0000000000000027 c000000002613118
GPR12: 0000000000008000 c0000007fffdca00 0000000000000000 0000000000000000
GPR16: 0000000023ec37c5 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 0000000000000008
GPR20: c000000004c8bc90 c0000000027a2d20 c000000004c8bcd0 c000000002612fe8
GPR24: 0000000000000038 0000000000000030 0000000000000028 0000000000000020
GPR28: c000000000ff1b68 c000000000bf8e5c c00000000312f700 c000000000fbb9b0
NIP ftrace_bug+0x28c/0x2e8
LR ftrace_bug+0x288/0x2e8
Call T
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel reliability flaw on PowerPC 64-bit systems using radix memory management. Under specific kernel memory mapping and code patching conditions, the kernel can fault and crash. The business impact is mainly service interruption on affected hosts, not data theft or remote compromise based on the supplied sources.
Executive priority
Handle through normal kernel patch management, with higher priority for critical PowerPC services where a local administrator-triggered kernel crash would disrupt operations. This is not supported as an internet-facing emergency by the supplied evidence.
Technical view
The flaw is a missing PTE synchronization path for kernel memory on powerpc/64s radix. map_kernel_page() can set a mapping and immediately access it without the ordering expected by later kernel accesses. Code patching with Strict RWX, including ftrace activity, can trigger kernel faults and availability loss.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems on PowerPC 64s radix configurations within the affected kernel ranges listed by the CVE data. General x86, ARM, and non-radix environments are not identified as affected in the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high availability impact. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source establishes active exploitation. The provided discussion shows reproducible crash behavior, not remote exploitation.
Researcher notes
The source description ties the bug to PTE update ordering for kernel memory, map_kernel_page(), Strict RWX code patching, and ftrace-driven code modification. Evidence supports availability impact only. Affected version data is coarse, so distribution backport verification matters.
Mitigation direction
Upgrade to a vendor kernel that includes the referenced stable fixes.
Check distribution advisories for backports before judging package exposure.
Prioritize PowerPC 64s radix hosts, especially systems using Strict RWX or dynamic tracing.
If patching is delayed, seek vendor guidance; sources do not name a workaround.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions on PowerPC 64s radix systems.
Compare vendor package changelogs against the referenced stable commits.
Confirm whether the running kernel includes the powerpc/64s PTE synchronization fix.
Review kernel crash logs for ftrace or code patching faults on affected hosts.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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