In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the Linux kernel has encountered a significant vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-46743, which carries a high severity rating with a CVSS score of 7.1. This issue, located in the of/irq subsystem, highlights the complexity and potential risks associated with hardware interaction layers within modern operating systems.
The vulnerability arises during the process known as 'interrupt map walk' when the of_irq_parse_raw() function is called. This function plays a crucial role in mapping device interrupts by parsing raw interrupt information from the device tree. When a device address is smaller than the interrupt parent node defined by the #address-cells property, a critical out-of-bounds read can occur. This is detected by the Kernel Address Sanitizer (KASAN), which is a dynamic memory error detector designed to find out-of-bounds accesses and use-after-free bugs.
Here's the essence of the issue:
When a bash task with PID 764 invokes of_irq_parse_raw(), it attempts to read memory that extends beyond its assigned space. This leads to accessing an invalid memory location, causing system instability or potential exploitation avenues for attackers. The error log provided in the CVE details gives a comprehensive backtrace showing where and how this error happens in the Linux kernel version 6.1.67.
The hardware involved is generally described as 'Unknown', indicating that this might affect a wide range of devices and platforms running the specified kernel version. This universality of the problem underscores the importance of addressing this vulnerability promptly.
Impact and Risks:
The primary risk of CVE-2024-46743 is the potential for an attacker to exploit the out-of-bounds read to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or possibly execute arbitrary code by leveraging the behavior of corrupted memory structures. Given the kernel-level execution of this vulnerability, the impact could be system-wide, affecting user data integrity, system stability, and security.
Preventive Measures:
The resolution to this vulnerability involves ensuring that the device address is always copied into a buffer of appropriate size, as recommended in the CVE report. This adjustment prevents the kernel from reading beyond the allocated memory area, thereby securing the system against this specific type of attack vector. Users and administrators are urged to apply patches released for their Linux distributions without delay.
For customers of LinuxPatch, it is critical to stay updated with the latest patches and security advisories. Regular system updates and vigilant monitoring of security notifications play a pivotal role in safeguarding against vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-46743. Patching this vulnerability not only rectifies the immediate issue but also fortifies the defenses of your IT infrastructure against potential exploitations stemming from similar flaw dynamics.
In conclusion, CVE-2024-46743 serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in secure software development and the ongoing need for rigorous security practices. By understanding the technical details and impacts of such vulnerabilities, users and system administrators can better prepare and protect their environments from emerging threats.