CVE-2024-58022
📋 TL;DR
This CVE fixes a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the TH1520 mailbox driver in the Linux kernel. The bug occurs when devm_ioremap() returns NULL instead of an error pointer, potentially causing kernel crashes or denial of service. Systems using affected Linux kernel versions with the TH1520 mailbox driver are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with TH1520 mailbox driver
📦 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially requiring physical access to restart the system.
Likely Case
System instability or kernel crash when the TH1520 mailbox driver attempts to access unmapped memory regions.
If Mitigated
Minor system instability that may cause service interruptions but no privilege escalation or data compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and ability to trigger the specific driver code path. No known public exploits.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits d0f98e14c010bcf27898b635a54c1994ac4110a8 and ecbde88e544ff016fa08bbf2156dc431bb123e9b
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0f98e14c010bcf27898b635a54c1994ac4110a8
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to a Linux kernel version containing the fix commits. 2. Rebuild kernel if using custom kernel. 3. Reboot system to load patched kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable TH1520 mailbox driver
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable driver module
echo 'blacklist th1520_mailbox' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
rmmod th1520_mailbox
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to prevent potential exploitation
- Implement kernel module signing to prevent unauthorized driver loading
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if TH1520 mailbox driver is loaded: lsmod | grep th1520_mailbox. Check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits or that TH1520 driver is not loaded if using workaround.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- NULL pointer dereference errors in kernel logs
- System crash/reboot events
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local kernel vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer" OR "kernel panic" OR "th1520")