CVE-2024-57982
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's XFRM (IPsec) subsystem where parallel hash table operations during state lookup can cause an out-of-bounds read. This affects all Linux systems using XFRM/IPsec functionality, potentially leading to kernel memory disclosure or system crashes.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to denial of service, or potential kernel memory disclosure that could aid further exploitation.
Likely Case
System instability or crashes when XFRM/IPsec is heavily used with concurrent operations.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if XFRM/IPsec is not enabled or used minimally.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires race condition timing and XFRM/IPsec usage. No public exploits known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patched in stable kernel commits: a16871c7832e, b86dc510308d, dd4c2a174994, e952837f3ddb
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a16871c7832ea6435abb6e0b58289ae7dcb7e4fc
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable XFRM/IPsec
LinuxDisable XFRM subsystem if not required
echo 'blacklist xfrm' > /etc/modprobe.d/disable-xfrm.conf
reboot
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable XFRM/IPsec functionality if not required
- Limit XFRM state table size and usage to reduce race condition probability
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if XFRM is enabled: lsmod | grep xfrm and check kernel version against patched versionsCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes one of the patch commits: uname -r and check with distribution vendor📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel oops messages
- System crashes when using IPsec/VPN
- dmesg showing XFRM errors
Network Indicators:
- IPsec/VPN connection instability
- Unexpected network encryption failures
SIEM Query:
kernel: "BUG: unable to handle kernel" OR "xfrm" AND "panic" OR "oops"