CVE-2024-26805 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
netlink: Fix kernel-infoleak-after-free in __skb_datagram_iter
syzbot reported the following uninit-value access issue [1]:
netlink_to_full_skb() creates a new `skb` and puts the `skb->data` passed as a 1st arg of netlink_to_full_skb() onto new `skb`. The data size is specified as `len` and passed to skb_put_data(). This `len` is based on `skb->end` that is not data offset but buffer offset. The `skb->end` contains data and tailroom. Since the tailroom is not initialized when the new `skb` created, KMSAN detects uninitialized memory area when copying the data.
This patch resolved this issue by correct the len from `skb->end` to `skb->len`, which is the actual data offset.
BUG: KMSAN: kernel-infoleak-after-free in instrument_copy_to_user include/linux/instrumented.h:114 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: kernel-infoleak-after-free in copy_to_user_iter lib/iov_iter.c:24 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: kernel-infoleak-after-free in iterate_ubuf include/linux/iov_iter.h:29 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: kernel-infoleak-after-free in iterate_and_advance2 include/linux/iov_iter.h:245 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: kernel-infoleak-after-free in iterate_and_advance include/linux/iov_iter.h:271 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: kernel-infoleak-after-free in _copy_to_iter+0x364/0x2520 lib/iov_iter.c:186 instrument_copy_to_user include/linux/instrumented.h:114 [inline]
copy_to_user_iter lib/iov_iter.c:24 [inline]
iterate_ubuf include/linux/iov_iter.h:29 [inline]
iterate_and_advance2 include/linux/iov_iter.h:245 [inline]
iterate_and_advance include/linux/iov_iter.h:271 [inline]
_copy_to_iter+0x364/0x2520 lib/iov_iter.c:186 copy_to_iter include/linux/uio.h:197 [inline]
simple_copy_to_iter+0x68/0xa0 net/core/datagram.c:532 __skb_datagram_iter+0x123/0xdc0 net/core/datagram.c:420 skb_copy_datagram_iter+0x5c/0x200 net/core/datagram.c:546 skb_copy_datagram_msg include/linux/skbuff.h:3960 [inline]
packet_recvmsg+0xd9c/0x2000 net/packet/af_packet.c:3482 sock_recvmsg_nosec net/socket.c:1044 [inline]
sock_recvmsg net/socket.c:1066 [inline]
sock_read_iter+0x467/0x580 net/socket.c:1136 call_read_iter include/linux/fs.h:2014 [inline]
new_sync_read fs/read_write.c:389 [inline]
vfs_read+0x8f6/0xe00 fs/read_write.c:470 ksys_read+0x20f/0x4c0 fs/read_write.c:613 __do_sys_read fs/read_write.c:623 [inline]
__se_sys_read fs/read_write.c:621 [inline]
__x64_sys_read+0x93/0xd0 fs/read_write.c:621 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0x44/0x110 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0x6b
Uninit was stored to memory at: skb_put_data include/linux/skbuff.h:2622 [inline]
netlink_to_full_skb net/netlink/af_netlink.c:181 [inline]
__netlink_deliver_tap_skb net/netlink/af_netlink.c:298 [inline]
__netlink_deliver_tap+0x5be/0xc90 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:325 netlink_deliver_tap net/netlink/af_netlink.c:338 [inline]
netlink_deliver_tap_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:347 [inline]
netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1341 [inline]
netlink_unicast+0x10f1/0x1250 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1368 netlink_sendmsg+0x1238/0x13d0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1910 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:745 [inline]
____sys_sendmsg+0x9c2/0xd60 net/socket.c:2584 ___sys_sendmsg+0x28d/0x3c0 net/socket.c:2638 __sys_sendmsg net/socket.c:2667 [inline]
__do_sys_sendmsg net/socket.c:2676 [inline]
__se_sys_sendmsg net/socket.c:2674 [inline]
__x64_sys_sendmsg+0x307/0x490 net/socket.c:2674 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0x44/0x110 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0x6b
Uninit was created at: free_pages_prepare mm/page_alloc.c:1087 [inline]
free_unref_page_prepare+0xb0/0xa40 mm/page_alloc.c:2347 free_unref_page_list+0xeb/0x1100 mm/page_alloc.c:2533 release_pages+0x23d3/0x2410 mm/swap.c:1042 free_pages_and_swap_cache+0xd9/0xf0 mm/swap_state.c:316 tlb_batch_pages ---truncated---
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-26805 resides within the Linux kernel's networking subsystem, specifically in the handling of Netlink socket operations. This issue manifests as a kernel information leak following a memory deallocation, which occurs during the processing of datagram data through the `__skb_datagram_iter` function. The flaw stems from an incorrect calculation of the data length parameter used when copying data into a new socket buffer, leading to the inadvertent copying of uninitialized memory contents. The root cause is traced to the use of `skb->end` instead of `skb->len` when determining the data size for the `skb_put_data` operation. The `skb->end` field represents the buffer offset including tailroom, which is not initialized upon creation of the new `skb`, whereas `skb->len` correctly reflects the actual data offset. This discrepancy allows KMSAN (Kernel Memory Sanitizer) to detect uninitialized memory access during kernel operations involving data copying. The vulnerability impacts kernel versions that utilize the Netlink protocol for inter-process communication, particularly affecting systems using packet sockets or applications relying on kernel-level network packet handling. The exploitation of this flaw could potentially expose sensitive kernel memory contents to user-space processes, undermining system security and confidentiality. The reported stack trace demonstrates the execution path leading to the issue, beginning with `netlink_to_full_skb` creating a new `skb` and proceeding through various kernel networking functions until reaching `__skb_datagram_iter`. The flaw is consistent with CWE-128, which describes "Wrap or Overflow" conditions in kernel memory management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as it could enable privilege escalation or data exfiltration. The patch resolves the issue by correcting the data length calculation, ensuring that only initialized data is copied into the new socket buffer, thereby eliminating the information leak. System administrators should prioritize applying this kernel update to mitigate potential exposure of kernel memory contents, particularly in environments where untrusted users have access to network interfaces or packet socket operations. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of memory management accuracy in kernel space, where even minor miscalculations can result in significant security implications. Organizations using Linux-based systems for networked applications or services should conduct thorough testing of updated kernels to ensure compatibility while addressing this memory safety concern.