Protect Your System from the Latest Linux Kernel Vulnerabilities
The Linux kernel is the core of every Linux-based operating system, managing hardware resources and facilitating communication between the system and its applications. Given its critical role, vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel can have severe consequences, allowing attackers to compromise system security, steal sensitive information, or cause system crashes. As new vulnerabilities emerge, it’s crucial to stay updated and apply timely security patches to protect your systems.
In this article, we explore some of the latest Linux kernel vulnerabilities in 2024 and how to secure your Linux systems without compromising uptime.
Details zu den Sicherheitslücken im Linux-Kernel
Recently, several vulnerabilities have been fixed in the Linux kernel, and these issues can potentially be exploited by attackers to compromise the system.
CVE-2024-36971 (CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 High)
This use-after-free vulnerability affects the Linux kernel’s network route management. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker could manipulate the behavior of certain network connections, potentially compromising network security. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when memory is improperly freed and later accessed, which can lead to unpredictable behavior and system crashes.
CVE-2024-42223 (CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 Medium)
A flaw in the tda10048_set_if() function within the tda10048 driver in the Linux kernel can result in an integer overflow. This issue arises from an improperly sized variable, state->xtal_hz
, leading to incorrect value calculations. The overflow affects the functionality of the driver and the digital video broadcasting (DVB) system, potentially disrupting multimedia services.
CVE-2024-27051 (CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 Medium)
A vulnerability in the brcm_avs_is_firmware_loaded()
function, part of the Linux kernel’s brcmstb-avs-cpufreq.c
driver, has been found to result in a NULL pointer dereference. This flaw occurs when the cpufreq_cpu_get()
function returns NULL, but its output is still referenced later in the code, leading to system instability. Systems using this driver may experience crashes if the flaw is exploited.
CVE-2024-42157 (CVSS v3 Score: 4.1 Medium)
This vulnerability affects the s390 crypto driver in the Linux kernel, where improper handling of secret keys during a failed copy_to_user()
function call could lead to sensitive key material remaining on the stack. This increases the risk of sensitive information disclosure, as attackers could potentially access unencrypted key material if they gain access to the system.
CVE-2024-42089 (CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 Medium)
A vulnerability in the fsl-asoc-card
driver has been discovered, where the pointer priv->pdev
is used before being properly initialized. This flaw can result in a NULL pointer dereference, leading to system crashes. The issue has since been addressed by ensuring the pointer is correctly initialized before use, reducing the risk of system failures.
CVE-2024-41073 (CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 High)
A flaw in the Linux kernel’s NVMe driver has been fixed, addressing an issue where a double free could occur if a discard request is retried and subsequently fails. When a retry fails, the special payload associated with the request may be freed twice, leading to unpredictable behavior or system crashes. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to destabilize a system by exploiting the NVMe driver’s discard handling logic.
Wie man sicher bleibt
Protecting your systems from these and other Linux kernel vulnerabilities requires staying up-to-date with the latest security patches. Popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Debian have already received security updates for these Linux kernel vulnerabilities. Regular patching is critical for maintaining system security, as vulnerabilities are continuously identified and fixed. However, the downtime associated with traditional patching methods can disrupt business operations.
To avoid patching-related downtime, you can consider utilizing live patching. Live patching allows you to apply security updates to a running kernel without requiring a system reboot, ensuring continuous system uptime while maintaining security. This is particularly important for enterprises that require high availability and cannot afford prolonged downtime.
TuxCare’s KernelCare Enterprise live patching solution provides automated security patching for all major enterprise Linux distributions without the need for reboots. It supports all popular enterprise distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, Amazon Linux, and many more. With KernelCare, businesses can apply critical security patches immediately, minimizing the window of vulnerability, improving compliance, and reducing operational costs.
By following best security practices and implementing KernelCare live patching, you can ensure that your Linux systems remain secure in the face of evolving threats.
Source: USN-7069-1