CVE-2024-50284 – This CVE-2024-50284 is a missing error check vu... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-50284?

CVE-2024-50284 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). This CVE-2024-50284 is a missing error check vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ksmbd (SMB server) module. When xa_store() fails due to invalid parameters or memory allocation issues, the kernel doesn't properly handle the error, potentially leading to system instability or crashes. This affects Linux systems running ksmbd with vulnerable kernel versions.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE-2024-50284 is a missing error check vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ksmbd (SMB server) module. When xa_store() fails due to invalid parameters or memory allocation issues, the kernel doesn't properly handle the error, potentially leading to system instability or crashes. This affects Linux systems running ksmbd with vulnerable kernel versions.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with ksmbd module enabled

Versions: Linux kernel versions with vulnerable ksmbd code (specific versions in the git commits referenced)

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Only vulnerable if ksmbd module is loaded and active. Many distributions don't enable ksmbd 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...

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 →

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 or system crash leading to denial of service, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt SMB file sharing services.

🟠

Likely Case

System instability or kernel oops when ksmbd encounters specific memory allocation failures during XArray operations.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minor performance impact or failed SMB operations without system-wide disruption if proper error handling is in place.

🌐 Internet-Facing: MEDIUM - ksmbd is often exposed for file sharing, but exploitation requires specific conditions and may only cause DoS.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal SMB servers could be disrupted, affecting file sharing services within the network.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires triggering specific memory allocation failures in xa_store() operations within ksmbd.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Patched in kernel commits: 3abab905b14f4ba756d413f37f1fb02b708eee93, 726c1568b9145fa13ee248df184b186c382a7ff8, c2a232c4f790f4bcd4d218904c56ac7a39a448f5, d8664ce789bd46290c59a00da6897252f92c237d

Vendor Advisory: https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify ksmbd module is using patched code.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable ksmbd module

linux

Unload ksmbd module if not required for SMB file sharing

sudo rmmod ksmbd
echo 'blacklist ksmbd' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ksmbd.conf

Use alternative SMB server

linux

Replace ksmbd with samba or other SMB server implementation

sudo systemctl disable ksmbd
sudo systemctl stop ksmbd
sudo apt install samba

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Monitor system logs for kernel oops or crashes related to ksmbd
Implement network segmentation to isolate ksmbd servers from untrusted networks

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if ksmbd module is loaded: lsmod | grep ksmbd. Check kernel version against patched commits.

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version includes the fix commits. Check dmesg for any ksmbd-related errors after patch.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel oops messages
ksmbd crash logs in dmesg
System crash/panic logs

Network Indicators:

SMB service disruption
Unexpected SMB connection failures

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("ksmbd" OR "XArray" OR "xa_store") AND ("panic" OR "oops" OR "BUG")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-50284

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-754

Published: November 19, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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