CVE-2024-56619
📋 TL;DR
A memory corruption vulnerability in the Linux kernel's nilfs2 filesystem driver allows potential out-of-bounds memory access or use-after-free conditions when processing directories with corrupted inode sizes. This affects Linux systems using the nilfs2 filesystem, potentially leading to kernel crashes or privilege escalation.
💻 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 panic causing system crash, or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.
Likely Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash or denial of service, potentially allowing information disclosure through memory access.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if nilfs2 filesystem is not mounted or SELinux/AppArmor restricts access to vulnerable code paths.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and ability to create/corrupt nilfs2 directory structures. KASAN detection suggests exploitation may be detectable.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits 09d6d05579fd46e61abf6e457bb100ff11f3a9d3 or other listed stable commits
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09d6d05579fd46e61abf6e457bb100ff11f3a9d3
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Check with your distribution's package manager for kernel updates. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable nilfs2 module
linuxPrevent loading of nilfs2 kernel module to eliminate attack surface
echo 'install nilfs2 /bin/false' >> /etc/modprobe.d/disable-nilfs2.conf
rmmod nilfs2 2>/dev/null || true
Unmount nilfs2 filesystems
linuxUnmount any nilfs2 filesystems to prevent access to vulnerable code
umount -t nilfs2
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Ensure no nilfs2 filesystems are mounted on the system
- Implement strict access controls to prevent local users from mounting or accessing nilfs2 filesystems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if nilfs2 module is loaded: lsmod | grep nilfs2. Check kernel version: uname -r and compare with patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated to include fix commits. Check nilfs2 module version if compiled separately.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- KASAN reports of use-after-free or out-of-bounds access in nilfs2 code
- System crashes when accessing nilfs2 directories
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel panic events or nilfs2-related crash reports in system logs🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09d6d05579fd46e61abf6e457bb100ff11f3a9d3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31f7b57a77d4c82a34ddcb6ff35b5aa577ef153e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/48eb6e7404948032bbe811c5affbe39f6b316951
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5af8366625182f01f6d8465c9a3210574673af57
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/985ebec4ab0a28bb5910c3b1481a40fbf7f9e61d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c3afea07477baccdbdec4483f8d5e59d42a3f67f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3732102a9d638d8627d14fdf7b208462f0520e0
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00001.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.html
