HighCVE-2024-26868

    Linux Kernel: NULL Pointer Dereference (CVE-2024-26868)

    Published Last modified Sources: SUSE, EUVD, CVE.org, BSI

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    What is affected, what to do

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfs: fix panic when nfs4_ff_layout_prepare_ds() fails We've been seeing the following panic in production BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000065 PGD 2f485f067 P4D 2f485f067 PUD 2cc5d8067 PMD 0 RIP: 0010:ff_layout_cancel_io+0x3a/0x90 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die+0x78/0xc0 ? page_fault_oops+0x286/0x380 ? __rpc_execute+0x2c3/0x470 [sunrpc] ? rpc_new_task+0x42/0x1c0 [sunrpc] ? exc_page_fault+0x5d/0x110 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 ? ff_layout_free_layoutreturn+0x110/0x110 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] ? ff_layout_cancel_io+0x3a/0x90 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] ? ff_layout_cancel_io+0x6f/0x90 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] pnfs_mark_matching_lsegs_return+0x1b0/0x360 [nfsv4] pnfs_error_mark_layout_for_return+0x9e/0x110 [nfsv4] ? ff_layout_send_layouterror+0x50/0x160 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] nfs4_ff_layout_prepare_ds+0x11f/0x290 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] ff_layout_pg_init_write+0xf0/0x1f0 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] __nfs_pageio_add_request+0x154/0x6c0 [nfs] nfs_pageio_add_request+0x26b/0x380 [nfs] nfs_do_writepage+0x111/0x1e0 [nfs] nfs_writepages_callback+0xf/0x30 [nfs] write_cache_pages+0x17f/0x380 ? nfs_pageio_init_write+0x50/0x50 [nfs] ? nfs_writepages+0x6d/0x210 [nfs] ? nfs_writepages+0x6d/0x210 [nfs] nfs_writepages+0x125/0x210 [nfs] do_writepages+0x67/0x220 ? generic_perform_write+0x14b/0x210 filemap_fdatawrite_wbc+0x5b/0x80 file_write_and_wait_range+0x6d/0xc0 nfs_file_fsync+0x81/0x170 [nfs] ? nfs_file_mmap+0x60/0x60 [nfs] __x64_sys_fsync+0x53/0x90 do_syscall_64+0x3d/0x90 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 Inspecting the core with drgn I was able to pull this >>> prog.crashed_thread().stack_trace()[0] #0 at 0xffffffffa079657a (ff_layout_cancel_io+0x3a/0x84) in ff_layout_cancel_io at fs/nfs/flexfilelayout/flexfilelayout.c:2021:27 >>> prog.crashed_thread().stack_trace()[0]['idx'] (u32)1 >>> prog.crashed_thread().stack_trace()[0]['flseg'].mirror_array[1].mirror_ds (struct nfs4_ff_layout_ds *)0xffffffffffffffed This is clear from the stack trace, we call nfs4_ff_layout_prepare_ds() which could error out initializing the mirror_ds, and then we go to clean it all up and our check is only for if (!mirror->mirror_ds). This is inconsistent with the rest of the users of mirror_ds, which have if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mirror_ds)) to keep from tripping over this exact scenario.

    Update Linux Kernel to version 6.1.83, Linux Kernel to version 6.6.23, Linux Kernel to version 6.7.11.

    Affected
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.1..6.1.83
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.2..6.6.23
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.7..6.7.11
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.8..6.8.2
    Fixed in
    • Linux Kernel 6.1.83
    • Linux Kernel 6.6.23
    • Linux Kernel 6.7.11
    • Linux Kernel 6.8.2
    • Linux Kernel 6.9

    Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

    Metrics

    7.5

    XIEM Effective CVSS

    Highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.

    Source: Vendor (CNA), CVSS v3

    7.5

    CVSS v3

    Severity High on the scale from 0 to 10.

    Source: SUSE, EUVD, CVE.org, BSI

    0.6 %

    EPSS score

    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 50.0

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    High
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    62.30 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    no public PoC known
    XIEM Effective CVSS

    XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command.

    Read in glossary
    7.5 Methodology
    CVSS v3

    CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions.

    Read in glossary
    7.5
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    0.6 %
    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    50.0
    High — this CVE ranks above the median of all CVEs scored today (rank ≥ 36%).
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    —
    Published
    CISA assessment (SSVC)
    Exploitation: none known · not automatable · Technical impact: partial
    Source: CISA Vulnrichment, as of 28 May 2024

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    High technical severity: assess and remediate the vulnerability in vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2 and document the decision.
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfs: fix panic when nfs4_ff_layout_prepare_ds() fails We've been seeing the following panic in production BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000065 PGD 2f485f067 P4D 2f485f067 PUD 2cc5d8067 PMD 0 RIP: 0010:ff_layout_cancel_io+0x3a/0x90 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die+0x78/0xc0 ? page_fault_oops+0x286/0x380 ? __rpc_execute+0x2c3/0x470 [sunrpc] ? rpc_new_task+0x42/0x1c0 [sunrpc] ? exc_page_fault+0x5d/0x110 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x22/0x30 ? ff_layout_free_layoutreturn+0x110/0x110 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] ? ff_layout_cancel_io+0x3a/0x90 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] ? ff_layout_cancel_io+0x6f/0x90 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] pnfs_mark_matching_lsegs_return+0x1b0/0x360 [nfsv4] pnfs_error_mark_layout_for_return+0x9e/0x110 [nfsv4] ? ff_layout_send_layouterror+0x50/0x160 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] nfs4_ff_layout_prepare_ds+0x11f/0x290 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] ff_layout_pg_init_write+0xf0/0x1f0 [nfs_layout_flexfiles] __nfs_pageio_add_request+0x154/0x6c0 [nfs] nfs_pageio_add_request+0x26b/0x380 [nfs] nfs_do_writepage+0x111/0x1e0 [nfs] nfs_writepages_callback+0xf/0x30 [nfs] write_cache_pages+0x17f/0x380 ? nfs_pageio_init_write+0x50/0x50 [nfs] ? nfs_writepages+0x6d/0x210 [nfs] ? nfs_writepages+0x6d/0x210 [nfs] nfs_writepages+0x125/0x210 [nfs] do_writepages+0x67/0x220 ? generic_perform_write+0x14b/0x210 filemap_fdatawrite_wbc+0x5b/0x80 file_write_and_wait_range+0x6d/0xc0 nfs_file_fsync+0x81/0x170 [nfs] ? nfs_file_mmap+0x60/0x60 [nfs] __x64_sys_fsync+0x53/0x90 do_syscall_64+0x3d/0x90 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 Inspecting the core with drgn I was able to pull this >>> prog.crashed_thread().stack_trace()[0] #0 at 0xffffffffa079657a (ff_layout_cancel_io+0x3a/0x84) in ff_layout_cancel_io at fs/nfs/flexfilelayout/flexfilelayout.c:2021:27 >>> prog.crashed_thread().stack_trace()[0]['idx'] (u32)1 >>> prog.crashed_thread().stack_trace()[0]['flseg'].mirror_array[1].mirror_ds (struct nfs4_ff_layout_ds *)0xffffffffffffffed This is clear from the stack trace, we call nfs4_ff_layout_prepare_ds() which could error out initializing the mirror_ds, and then we go to clean it all up and our check is only for if (!mirror->mirror_ds). This is inconsistent with the rest of the users of mirror_ds, which have if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mirror_ds)) to keep from tripping over this exact scenario. Fix this up in ff_layout_cancel_io() to make sure we don't panic when we get an error. I also spot checked all the other instances of checking mirror_ds and we appear to be doing the correct checks everywhere, only unconditionally dereferencing mirror_ds when we know it would be valid.

    Source: suse_csaf, ENISA EUVD, NVD (NIST), cvelistv5, BSI CSAF, BSI WID Portal

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    LinuxLinux
    • 6.8 – < 6.8.2
    • —
    • 6.2 – < 6.6.23
    • 6.7 – < 6.7.11
    • 6.1 – < 6.1.83
    • 6.8.2
    • 6.9
    • 6.6.23
    • 6.7.11
    • 6.1.83

    Vendors and products

    Affected operating systems

    Affected operating systems
    Linuxlinuxlinux_kernel—

    References & sources

    Changes to this CVE

    Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

    1. Record modifiedLinux

      CVSS V3.1: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

      Show the original change
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      CVSSadded
      —
      AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

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