CVE-2024-46764
📋 TL;DR
A Linux kernel vulnerability in the BPF subsystem allows out-of-bounds read/write due to improper validation of BTF section names. This affects systems running vulnerable Linux kernel versions with BPF enabled, potentially allowing local attackers to escalate privileges or crash the system.
💻 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
Local privilege escalation to root, kernel memory corruption leading to system crash or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.
Likely Case
Local denial of service (kernel panic/crash) or information disclosure through kernel memory reads.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if BPF is disabled or system is not running vulnerable kernel versions.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and knowledge of BPF internals. No public exploit code available at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits bb6705c3f93bed2af03d43691743d4c43e3c8e6f and c8ffe2d4d37a05ce18c71b87421443c16f8475c5
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bb6705c3f93bed2af03d43691743d4c43e3c8e6f
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution vendor. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable BPF subsystem
linuxDisable BPF functionality at kernel boot to prevent exploitation
Add 'nosyscall_bpf' to kernel boot parameters in GRUB configuration
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to prevent unauthorized users from exploiting the vulnerability
- Implement strict BPF program loading restrictions using seccomp or other security modules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and verify if BPF is enabled: 'uname -r' and 'grep CONFIG_BPF_SYSCALL /boot/config-$(uname -r)'Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Check kernel version after update and verify it includes the fix commits: 'uname -r' and check with distribution vendor for specific patched versions📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- BPF-related error messages in dmesg
- Unexpected BPF program loads
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel panic events or BPF-related errors in system logs