CVE-2024-50225
📋 TL;DR
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Btrfs filesystem occurs when split bios complete before their parent bio context is properly initialized, causing kernel crashes. This affects Linux systems using Btrfs with specific configurations like zoned devices and RAID setups. The vulnerability can lead to denial of service.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially causing data corruption or loss in Btrfs filesystems.
Likely Case
System crash or instability when performing I/O operations on Btrfs filesystems with specific configurations, requiring system reboot.
If Mitigated
No impact if Btrfs is not used or if affected configurations are avoided.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and specific Btrfs configurations. The vulnerability is triggered during normal I/O operations rather than being actively weaponized.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Linux kernel with commits 22833d89b780ba0f9f66e19c477e7decf638edce and d48e1dea3931de64c26717adc2b89743c7ab6594 applied
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22833d89b780ba0f9f66e19c477e7decf638edce
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix. 2. Check with your distribution for security updates. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Avoid vulnerable Btrfs configurations
linuxDo not use Btrfs with zoned devices and RAID-stripe-tree feature creating '-d raid0 -m raid1' filesystems.
Use alternative filesystem
linuxUse ext4, XFS, or other filesystems instead of Btrfs for critical systems.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Monitor system logs for Btrfs errors and kernel crashes
- Implement robust backup strategy for Btrfs filesystems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and Btrfs configuration. Vulnerable if using affected kernel with Btrfs on zoned devices with RAID-stripe-tree.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the fix commits or check with 'uname -r' after updating to patched kernel version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel NULL pointer dereference errors in dmesg or system logs
- Btrfs error messages related to bio propagation
- System crash logs with Btrfs stack traces
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer dereference" OR "btrfs_bbio_propagate_error" OR "btrfs_bio_end_io")