CVE-2024-44932
📋 TL;DR
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's idpf driver that occurs during queue destruction. It allows attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by accessing freed memory. Systems running vulnerable Linux kernel versions with the idpf driver loaded are affected.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash, or potential arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges resulting in complete system compromise.
Likely Case
System instability, kernel crashes, or denial of service due to memory corruption.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper kernel hardening and exploit mitigations are in place, though crashes may still occur.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and ability to trigger queue destruction operations. Race condition makes exploitation timing-sensitive.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel commits 290f1c033281c1a502a3cd1c53c3a549259c491f and 3cde714b0e77206ed1b5cf31f28c18ba9ae946fd
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/290f1c033281c1a502a3cd1c53c3a549259c491f
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to a kernel version containing the fix commits. 2. Check with your Linux distribution for backported patches. 3. Reboot the system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Unload idpf driver
linuxRemove the vulnerable driver module if not needed
sudo rmmod idpf
Blacklist idpf driver
linuxPrevent the driver from loading at boot
echo 'blacklist idpf' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-idpf.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local access to prevent untrusted users from running code on the system
- Implement strict process isolation and limit driver interaction to trusted processes only
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if idpf driver is loaded: lsmod | grep idpf. Check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits or check with distribution-specific security advisories.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- WARN messages from net/core/page_pool.c
- System crashes during network operations
Network Indicators:
- Sudden loss of network connectivity on affected interfaces
SIEM Query:
kernel:WARN* AND (page_pool OR idpf) OR kernel:panic*