CVE-2024-46738

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-46738?

CVE-2024-46738 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's VMCI (Virtual Machine Communication Interface) subsystem. An attacker could exploit this to cause memory corruption, potentially leading to system crashes or arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with VMCI enabled are vulnerable.

7.8 HIGH

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's VMCI (Virtual Machine Communication Interface) subsystem. An attacker could exploit this to cause memory corruption, potentially leading to system crashes or arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with VMCI enabled are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel

Versions: Specific affected versions not explicitly stated in CVE description; check kernel commit references for exact ranges.

Operating Systems: Linux distributions with affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Only vulnerable if VMCI subsystem is enabled/loaded. Many distributions don't enable VMCI by default.

📦 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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⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel privilege escalation leading to full system compromise, arbitrary code execution, or persistent rootkit installation.

🟠

Likely Case

Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially requiring physical reboot.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if VMCI is disabled or systems are properly patched.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - VMCI is typically used for host-guest communication in virtualization environments, not directly internet-exposed.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Requires local access or ability to interact with VMCI interface, which could be exploited by malicious local users or compromised containers/VMs.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires ability to create VMCI resources and trigger removal operations. Likely requires local access or VM escape capabilities.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 00fe5292f081f8d773e572df8e03bf6e1855fe49, 39e7e593418ccdbd151f2925fa6be1a616d16c96, 48b9a8dabcc3cf5f961b2ebcd8933bf9204babb7, 6c563a29857aa8053b67ee141191f69757f27f6e, b243d52b5f6f59f9d39e69b191fb3d58b94a43b1

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/00fe5292f081f8d773e572df8e03bf6e1855fe49

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution vendor. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify VMCI module is not loaded if not needed.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable VMCI module

linux

Prevent loading of vulnerable VMCI subsystem if not required.

echo 'blacklist vmw_vmci' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-vmci.conf
rmmod vmw_vmci

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Disable VMCI functionality if not required for virtualization features
Restrict local access to systems and monitor for suspicious VMCI-related activity

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if VMCI module is loaded: lsmod | grep vmw_vmci. If loaded and kernel version is unpatched, system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Check kernel version includes fix commits and VMCI module version. Verify no use-after-free errors in kernel logs.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
KASAN use-after-free reports in dmesg
VMCI-related crash logs

Network Indicators:

Unusual VMCI traffic patterns if monitored

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("KASAN: use-after-free" OR "vmci_resource" OR "VMCI")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-46738

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-416

Published: September 18, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

Linux Kernel by Linux

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case

Likely Case

If Mitigated

🎯 Exploit Status

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Instructions:

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable VMCI module

🧯 If You Can't Patch

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Version:

Verify Fix Applied:

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Network Indicators:

SIEM Query:

📊 Metadata

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

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