CVE-2024-42315
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a potential deadlock vulnerability in the Linux kernel's exFAT filesystem driver. When accessing files with many directory entries, improper memory allocation flags could cause a deadlock between filesystem operations and memory reclaim processes. This affects Linux systems using the exFAT filesystem driver.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 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...
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
System deadlock requiring hard reboot, causing denial of service and potential data corruption on exFAT filesystems.
Likely Case
System hangs or performance degradation when accessing files with many directory entries on exFAT partitions.
If Mitigated
No impact if patched or if exFAT filesystem is not used.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and specific conditions to trigger the deadlock. No remote exploitation vector exists.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Multiple stable kernel versions with commits: 1d1970493c289e3f44b9ec847ed26a5dbdf56a62, 632fb232b6bbf8277edcbe9ecd4b4d98ecb122eb, 89fc548767a2155231128cb98726d6d2ea1256c9, a7ac198f8dba791e3144c4da48a5a9b95773ee4b, c052f775ee6ccacd3c97e4cf41a2a657e63d4259
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d1970493c289e3f44b9ec847ed26a5dbdf56a62
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable exFAT filesystem support
linuxRemove exFAT kernel module to prevent vulnerability trigger
sudo rmmod exfat
echo 'blacklist exfat' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-exfat.conf
Avoid exFAT partitions
linuxDo not mount or access exFAT filesystems
sudo umount /dev/[exfat-partition]
Comment out exFAT entries in /etc/fstab
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Avoid using exFAT filesystems on affected systems
- Implement monitoring for system hangs and have reboot procedures ready
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if exFAT module is loaded: lsmod | grep exfat && uname -rCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is patched and test exFAT operations with files containing many entries📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- System hang logs
- Kernel panic messages
- Process stuck in D state in process lists
Network Indicators:
- None - local filesystem issue
SIEM Query:
Search for: 'kernel: possible deadlock' OR 'kernel: hung task' OR system reboots without clear cause🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d1970493c289e3f44b9ec847ed26a5dbdf56a62
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/632fb232b6bbf8277edcbe9ecd4b4d98ecb122eb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/89fc548767a2155231128cb98726d6d2ea1256c9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7ac198f8dba791e3144c4da48a5a9b95773ee4b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c052f775ee6ccacd3c97e4cf41a2a657e63d4259
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd1c7858641384191ff7033fb1fc65dfcd559c6f
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00001.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.html
