CVE-2024-26930 – This CVE describes a double-free vulnerability ... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-26930?

CVE-2024-26930 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This CVE describes a double-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's QLogic Fibre Channel driver (qla2xxx). A double-free of the ha->vp_map pointer could lead to memory corruption, potentially causing kernel crashes or privilege escalation. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the qla2xxx driver loaded are vulnerable.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a double-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's QLogic Fibre Channel driver (qla2xxx). A double-free of the ha->vp_map pointer could lead to memory corruption, potentially causing kernel crashes or privilege escalation. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the qla2xxx driver loaded are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel

Versions: Specific affected kernel versions not specified in CVE description; check git commits for exact ranges.

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using vulnerable kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Only vulnerable if the qla2xxx driver (for QLogic Fibre Channel adapters) is loaded. Many systems may not use this driver.

📦 What is this software?

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel panic leading to system crash, or local privilege escalation to root if an attacker can trigger the double-free and control subsequent memory allocations.

🟠

Likely Case

Kernel crash (denial of service) when the vulnerable code path is triggered, potentially during driver initialization or cleanup.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if the vulnerable driver is not loaded or the system is patched.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This is a local kernel vulnerability requiring access to the system.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal systems with the qla2xxx driver loaded could be vulnerable to crashes or privilege escalation by local users.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires local access and ability to trigger the vulnerable code path in the kernel driver.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing the git commits referenced in the CVE description

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/825d63164a2e6bacb059a9afb5605425b485413f

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to a patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot the system to load the new kernel.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Unload qla2xxx driver

linux

Prevent exploitation by unloading the vulnerable driver if not needed.

sudo rmmod qla2xxx

Blacklist qla2xxx driver

linux

Prevent the driver from loading at boot.

echo 'blacklist qla2xxx' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-qla2xxx.conf

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Unload or blacklist the qla2xxx driver if not required for system functionality.
Restrict local user access to systems with the vulnerable driver loaded.

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if qla2xxx driver is loaded: lsmod | grep qla2xxx. If loaded, check kernel version against patched versions.

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

After patching, verify the driver is still loaded and system is stable; check kernel version matches patched release.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic logs, oops messages related to qla2xxx driver or memory corruption

Network Indicators:

None - this is a local vulnerability

SIEM Query:

Search for kernel logs containing 'qla2xxx' and 'Oops', 'panic', or 'general protection fault'

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-26930

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

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

CWE: CWE-415

Published: May 1, 2024

Last Updated: March 7, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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