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CVE-2024-45023NVD status: Modified

Linux: Out-of-bounds Write

CVE-2024-45023 is a high-severity out-of-bounds write 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 2febf5fdbf5d9a52ddc3e986971c8609b1582d67, c916ca35308d3187c9928664f9be249b22a3a701 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 0.19% 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 2febf5fdbf5d9a52ddc3e986971c8609b1582d67 or c916ca35308d3187c9928664f9be249b22a3a701, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Linux Kernel to 6.10.7 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinuxdfa8ecd167c1753d4fc24a517e1d79c603183c94 up to, but not including, 2febf5fdbf5d9a52ddc3e986971c8609b1582d67; dfa8ecd167c1753d4fc24a517e1d79c603183c94 up to, but not including, c916ca35308d3187c9928664f9be249b22a3a701; 6.92febf5fdbf5d9a52ddc3e986971c8609b1582d67, c916ca35308d3187c9928664f9be249b22a3a701
LinuxLinux Kernel6.9 up to, but not including, 6.10.7; 6.116.10.7

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
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

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

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighCNA
CVSS 3.17.1HighNVD

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: md/raid1: Fix data corruption for degraded array with slow disk read_balance() will avoid reading from slow disks as much as possible, however, if valid data only lands in slow disks, and a new normal disk is still in recovery, unrecovered data can be read: raid1_read_request read_balance raid1_should_read_first -> return false choose_best_rdev -> normal disk is not recovered, return -1 choose_bb_rdev -> missing the checking of recovery, return the normal disk -> read unrecovered data Root cause is that the checking of recovery is missing in choose_bb_rdev(). Hence add such checking to fix the problem. Also fix similar problem in choose_slow_rdev().

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

The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Write

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

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, many languages that perform their own memory management, such as Java and Perl, are not subject to buffer overflows. Other languages, such as Ada and C#, typically provide overflow protection, but the protection can be disabled by the programmer. Be wary that a language's interface to native code may still be subject to overflows, even if the language itself is theoretically safe.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Examples include the Safe C String Library (SafeStr) by Messier and Viega, and the Strsafe.h library from Microsoft. These libraries provide safer versions of overflow-prone string-handling functions.
  • Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.

More Out-of-bounds Write vulnerabilities (CWE-787)

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 Write vulnerabilities

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