CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-40929NVD status: Modified

Linux: Out-of-bounds Read

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-40929 is a high-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 3c4771091ea8016c8601399078916f722dd8833b, f777792952d03bbaf8329fdfa99393a5a33e2640, 9e719ae3abad60e245ce248ba3f08148f375a614 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux to 3c4771091ea8016c8601399078916f722dd8833b or f777792952d03bbaf8329fdfa99393a5a33e2640 or 9e719ae3abad60e245ce248ba3f08148f375a614 or 29a18d56bd64b95bd10bda4afda512558471382a, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Linux Kernel to 5.10.221 or 5.15.162 or 6.1.95 or 6.6.35, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinuxc1a7515393e403758a684fd0a2372af466675b15 up to, but not including, 3c4771091ea8016c8601399078916f722dd8833b; c1a7515393e403758a684fd0a2372af466675b15 up to, but not including, f777792952d03bbaf8329fdfa99393a5a33e2640; c1a7515393e403758a684fd0a2372af466675b15 up to, but not including, 9e719ae3abad60e245ce248ba3f08148f375a614; c1a7515393e403758a684fd0a2372af466675b15 up to, but not including, 29a18d56bd64b95bd10bda4afda512558471382a; c1a7515393e403758a684fd0a2372af466675b15 up to, but not including, 62e007bdeb91c6879a4652c3426aef1cd9d2937b; c1a7515393e403758a684fd0a2372af466675b15 up to, but not including, 60d62757df30b74bf397a2847a6db7385c6ee281; 4.173c4771091ea8016c8601399078916f722dd8833b, f777792952d03bbaf8329fdfa99393a5a33e2640, 9e719ae3abad60e245ce248ba3f08148f375a614, 29a18d56bd64b95bd10bda4afda512558471382a, 62e007bdeb91c6879a4652c3426aef1cd9d2937b, 60d62757df30b74bf397a2847a6db7385c6ee281
LinuxLinux Kernel4.17 up to, but not including, 5.10.221; 5.11 up to, but not including, 5.15.162; 5.16 up to, but not including, 6.1.95; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.35; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.9.6; 6.105.10.221, 5.15.162, 6.1.95, 6.6.35, 6.9.6

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.1HighCNA
CVSS 3.17.1HighNVD

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: check n_ssids before accessing the ssids In some versions of cfg80211, the ssids poinet might be a valid one even though n_ssids is 0. Accessing the pointer in this case will cuase an out-of-bound access. Fix this by checking n_ssids first.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read

The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.

More Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities (CWE-125)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities

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