CVE-2024-43830
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's LED trigger subsystem. The vulnerability occurs when sysfs attributes are unregistered after trigger deactivation, creating a race condition where freed memory could be accessed. This affects any Linux system using LED triggers with custom sysfs attributes.
💻 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 →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 →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 or local privilege escalation leading to full system compromise if an attacker can trigger the race condition and execute arbitrary code in kernel context.
Likely Case
System crash or kernel panic causing denial of service, potentially requiring a reboot to restore functionality.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper kernel hardening and limited user access to sysfs interfaces.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires triggering a specific race condition and local access to sysfs interfaces. No public exploits known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel commits: 0788a6f3523d3686a9eed5ea1e6fcce6841277b2, 09c1583f0e10c918855d6e7540a79461a353e5d6, 3fb6a9d67cfd812a547ac73ec02e1077c26c640d, 734ba6437e80dfc780e9ee9d95f912392d12b5ea, c0dc9adf9474ecb7106e60e5472577375aedaed3
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0788a6f3523d3686a9eed5ea1e6fcce6841277b2
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to a patched kernel version from your distribution vendor. 2. For custom kernels, apply the relevant kernel commits. 3. Reboot the system to load the new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable LED triggers
linuxRemove or disable LED trigger configurations that use custom sysfs attributes
echo none > /sys/class/leds/*/trigger
Restrict sysfs access
linuxLimit access to LED sysfs directories to prevent unauthorized users from triggering the vulnerability
chmod 600 /sys/class/leds/*/*
chown root:root /sys/class/leds/*/*
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit which users can access LED sysfs interfaces
- Monitor system logs for kernel panic or crash events related to LED subsystems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and verify if LED trigger subsystem with custom sysfs attributes is in use. Vulnerable if using unpatched kernel with LED triggers.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the fix commits or check with distribution vendor for patched kernel version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- Oops messages in dmesg or /var/log/kern.log
- System crash reports
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "Oops" OR "use-after-free") AND ("led" OR "trigger")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0788a6f3523d3686a9eed5ea1e6fcce6841277b2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09c1583f0e10c918855d6e7540a79461a353e5d6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3fb6a9d67cfd812a547ac73ec02e1077c26c640d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/734ba6437e80dfc780e9ee9d95f912392d12b5ea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0dc9adf9474ecb7106e60e5472577375aedaed3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c3b7a650c8717aa89df318364609c86cbc040156
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb8aa9d2a4c8a15d6a43ccf901ef3d094aa60374
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1415125b701ef13370e2761f691ec632a5eb93a
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/10/msg00003.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.html
