Re: [PATCH] rtl8187: Fix potential buffer underflow in rtl8187_rx_cb()

From: Ping-Ke Shih
Date: Sun Nov 16 2025 - 23:02:50 EST


pip-izony <eeodqql09@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> From: Seungjin Bae <eeodqql09@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> The rtl8187_rx_cb() calculates the rx descriptor header address
> by subtracting its size from the skb tail pointer.
> However, it does not validate if the received packet
> (skb->len from urb->actual_length) is large enough to contain this
> header.
>
> If a truncated packet is received, this will lead to a buffer
> underflow, reading memory before the start of the skb data area,
> and causing a kernel panic.
>
> This patch adds length checks for both rtl8187 and rtl8187b descriptor
> headers before attempting to access them, dropping the packet cleanly
> if the check fails.
>
> Fixes: 6f7853f3cbe4 ("rtl8187: change rtl8187_dev.c to support RTL8187B (part 2)")
> Signed-off-by: Seungjin Bae <eeodqql09@xxxxxxxxx>
> ---
>
> diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl818x/rtl8187/dev.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl818x/rtl8187/dev.c
> index 0c5c66401daa..eff42acc11a0 100644
> --- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl818x/rtl8187/dev.c
> +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl818x/rtl8187/dev.c
> @@ -344,6 +344,10 @@ static void rtl8187_rx_cb(struct urb *urb)
> }
>
> if (!priv->is_rtl8187b) {
> + if (skb->len < sizeof(struct rtl8187_rx_hdr)) {
> + dev_kfree_skb_irq(skb);
> + return;
> + }

Though compiler doesn't warn something if statements before declarations,
we still don't suggest this style.

A way is

struct rtl8187_rx_hdr *hdr;

if (skb->len < sizeof(struct rtl8187_rx_hdr)) {
...
return;
}

hdr = (typeof(hdr))(skb_tail_pointer(skb) - sizeof(*hdr));

Or, check before if branches

(declare at top of this function)
int skb_len_limit = !priv->is_rtl8187b ? sizeof(struct rtl8187_rx_hdr) :
sizeof(struct rtl8187b_rx_hdr);

if (skb->len < skb_len_limit) {
...
return;
}


> struct rtl8187_rx_hdr *hdr =
> (typeof(hdr))(skb_tail_pointer(skb) - sizeof(*hdr));
> flags = le32_to_cpu(hdr->flags);
> @@ -355,6 +359,10 @@ static void rtl8187_rx_cb(struct urb *urb)
> rx_status.antenna = (hdr->signal >> 7) & 1;
> rx_status.mactime = le64_to_cpu(hdr->mac_time);
> } else {
> + if (skb->len < sizeof(struct rtl8187b_rx_hdr)) {
> + dev_kfree_skb_irq(skb);
> + return;
> + }
> struct rtl8187b_rx_hdr *hdr =
> (typeof(hdr))(skb_tail_pointer(skb) - sizeof(*hdr));
> /* The Realtek datasheet for the RTL8187B shows that the RX