CVE-2024-53239 – This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerabili... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-53239?

CVE-2024-53239 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ALSA 6fire USB audio driver. An attacker could potentially exploit this to cause kernel memory corruption, leading to system crashes or arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. Systems using the affected USB audio driver are vulnerable.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ALSA 6fire USB audio driver. An attacker could potentially exploit this to cause kernel memory corruption, leading to system crashes or arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. Systems using the affected USB audio driver are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with ALSA 6fire USB audio driver

Versions: Linux kernel versions before the fix commits (specific versions vary by distribution)

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using vulnerable kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Only vulnerable if the 6fire USB audio driver is loaded (typically when using TerraTec Phase 6 USB audio devices). Most systems won't have this driver loaded 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 →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel privilege escalation leading to full system compromise, denial of service, or arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges.

🟠

Likely Case

System crash or kernel panic resulting in denial of service, potentially requiring physical access or reboot to restore functionality.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if the vulnerable driver is not loaded or if the system is patched.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This requires local access or USB device interaction, not directly exploitable over network.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local attackers or malicious USB devices could exploit this on vulnerable systems.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires local access or ability to connect malicious USB device. Timing window for use-after-free must be hit precisely.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits: 0df7f4b5cc10f5adf98be0845372e9eef7bb5b09, 273eec23467dfbfbd0e4c10302579ba441fb1e13, 57860a80f03f9dc69a34a5c37b0941ad032a0a8c, 74357d0b5cd3ef544752bc9f21cbeee4902fae6c, a0810c3d6dd2d29a9b92604d682eacd2902ce947

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0df7f4b5cc10f5adf98be0845372e9eef7bb5b09

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Blacklist 6fire driver module

linux

Prevent loading of vulnerable driver module

echo 'blacklist snd-usb-6fire' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-6fire.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot

Unload driver if currently loaded

linux

Remove vulnerable driver from running kernel

rmmod snd-usb-6fire

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Restrict physical access to prevent USB device connection
Implement USB device control policies to block unauthorized audio devices

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if 6fire driver is loaded: lsmod | grep snd-usb-6fire. If loaded and kernel version is unpatched, system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Check kernel version is patched and 6fire driver is either not loaded or updated version.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel oops messages
System crashes when using USB audio devices
dmesg errors related to snd-usb-6fire

Network Indicators:

No network indicators - local exploit only

SIEM Query:

Search for kernel panic events or module loading events for snd-usb-6fire

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-53239

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: December 27, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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