CVE-2024-50205 – This CVE describes a division-by-zero vulnerabi... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-50205?

CVE-2024-50205 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). This CVE describes a division-by-zero vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ALSA firewire-lib component. The flaw occurs in the apply_constraint_to_size() function when the step variable remains zero, potentially causing kernel crashes or denial of service. Systems using ALSA FireWire audio interfaces with affected kernel versions are vulnerable.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a division-by-zero vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ALSA firewire-lib component. The flaw occurs in the apply_constraint_to_size() function when the step variable remains zero, potentially causing kernel crashes or denial of service. Systems using ALSA FireWire audio interfaces with affected kernel versions are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel

Versions: Kernel versions containing commit 826b5de90c0b up to patched versions

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using vulnerable kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires ALSA FireWire audio subsystem usage; not all Linux systems use FireWire audio interfaces.

📦 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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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 →

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 and denial of service, potentially requiring physical reboot.

🟠

Likely Case

Application crash or audio subsystem malfunction when specific FireWire audio operations are performed.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minor performance impact or failed audio device initialization with proper error handling.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access or specific FireWire audio operations.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local users or processes could trigger the vulnerability on affected systems.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: NO

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access and ability to trigger specific FireWire audio operations; found through static analysis.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions with commits 3452d39c4704aa12504e4190298c721fb01083c3 or later

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3452d39c4704aa12504e4190298c721fb01083c3

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update kernel to patched version from distribution repository. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version matches patched release.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable FireWire audio module

linux

Prevent loading of the vulnerable firewire-lib module

echo 'blacklist snd-firewire-lib' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-firewire.conf
rmmod snd-firewire-lib

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Restrict access to FireWire audio devices to trusted users only
Monitor system logs for kernel panic or ALSA subsystem errors

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check kernel version and if snd-firewire-lib module is loaded: 'lsmod | grep snd-firewire-lib'

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version is patched and test FireWire audio functionality

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
ALSA subsystem errors in dmesg
Division by zero kernel warnings

Network Indicators:

None - local vulnerability only

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("division by zero" OR "panic" OR "ALSA")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-50205

CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CWE: CWE-369

Published: November 8, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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