Linux: Access of Uninitialized Pointer
CVE-2024-57943 is a high-severity access of uninitialized pointer vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 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 942c6f91ab8d82a41650e717940b4e577173762f, 98e2fb26d1a9eafe79f46d15d54e68e014d81d8c 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.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 942c6f91ab8d82a41650e717940b4e577173762f or 98e2fb26d1a9eafe79f46d15d54e68e014d81d8c, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.12.10 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6630ea49103c3d45461e29b0f6eb0ce750aeb8f5 up to, but not including, 942c6f91ab8d82a41650e717940b4e577173762f; 6630ea49103c3d45461e29b0f6eb0ce750aeb8f5 up to, but not including, 98e2fb26d1a9eafe79f46d15d54e68e014d81d8c; 6.12 | 942c6f91ab8d82a41650e717940b4e577173762f, 98e2fb26d1a9eafe79f46d15d54e68e014d81d8c |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.12 up to, but not including, 6.12.10; 6.13 | 6.12.10 |
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
- 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:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exfat: fix the new buffer was not zeroed before writing Before writing, if a buffer_head marked as new, its data must be zeroed, otherwise uninitialized data in the page cache will be written. So this commit uses folio_zero_new_buffers() to zero the new buffers before ->write_end().
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Access of Uninitialized Pointer
The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized.
More Access of Uninitialized Pointer vulnerabilities (CWE-824)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Access of Uninitialized Pointer vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.