CVE-2024-26702 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
iio: magnetometer: rm3100: add boundary check for the value read from RM3100_REG_TMRC
Recently, we encounter kernel crash in function rm3100_common_probe caused by out of bound access of array rm3100_samp_rates (because of underlying hardware failures). Add boundary check to prevent out of bound access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-26702 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Linux kernel's industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem, specifically affecting the rm3100 magnetometer driver. This issue manifests in the rm3100_common_probe function where improper boundary validation leads to array out-of-bounds access. The root cause stems from reading a value from the RM3100_REG_TMRC register without adequate validation of the retrieved data against expected parameter ranges. When underlying hardware malfunctions occur, the driver attempts to use an invalid index value to access the rm3100_samp_rates array, resulting in kernel crashes and system instability. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation leading to memory corruption. The attack surface is primarily limited to systems utilizing the rm3100 magnetometer hardware through the IIO subsystem, particularly in industrial automation, embedded systems, and IoT devices where such sensors are commonly deployed. The operational impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enabling privilege escalation or denial of service conditions that could compromise entire industrial control systems.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the rm3100 driver reads configuration data from hardware registers without validating that the returned values fall within acceptable bounds for array indexing operations. The RM3100_REG_TMRC register contains timing configuration parameters that, when corrupted or malformed due to hardware failure, can produce values that exceed the legitimate range of indices for the rm3100_samp_rates lookup table. This particular vulnerability demonstrates how hardware-level failures can cascade into software-level memory corruption when proper bounds checking mechanisms are absent. The lack of boundary validation creates a direct pathway for memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors or triggered by hardware anomalies. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation through memory corruption and system stability compromise, specifically mapping to T1499.004 for network denial of service and T1068 for local privilege escalation. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases in environments where hardware reliability is compromised or where attackers can induce specific hardware failure conditions to trigger the out-of-bounds access.
System administrators and embedded device operators must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by applying the latest kernel patches that introduce proper boundary checks for the rm3100 magnetometer driver. The recommended approach involves validating register read values against predefined acceptable ranges before using them as array indices, effectively preventing the out-of-bounds memory access that leads to kernel crashes. Organizations should prioritize patching systems running affected kernel versions, particularly those in industrial control environments where the rm3100 magnetometer is deployed. Additional protective measures include implementing hardware monitoring systems that can detect and alert on anomalous register values, deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for kernel crash patterns, and establishing robust backup and recovery procedures for mission-critical systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive input validation in embedded systems and the need for robust error handling in hardware driver code. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries and memory protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments of IIO subsystem drivers should be conducted to identify similar boundary check deficiencies in other sensor drivers that may present analogous security risks.