CVE-2024-26807 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
spi: cadence-qspi: fix pointer reference in runtime PM hooks
dev_get_drvdata() gets used to acquire the pointer to cqspi and the SPI controller. Neither embed the other; this lead to memory corruption.
On a given platform (Mobileye EyeQ5) the memory corruption is hidden inside cqspi->f_pdata. Also, this uninitialised memory is used as a mutex (ctlr->bus_lock_mutex) by spi_controller_suspend().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-26807 resides within the Linux kernel's spi cadence-qspi driver implementation, specifically affecting the runtime power management hooks. This issue manifests as a critical memory corruption flaw that stems from improper pointer handling during device driver initialization and runtime management. The vulnerability occurs when dev_get_drvdata() is employed to retrieve the cqspi structure pointer and the SPI controller reference, creating a scenario where these two distinct data structures are not properly integrated or embedded within each other, leading to undefined behavior and memory corruption patterns.
The technical flaw represents a classic case of improper data structure management where the cqspi driver fails to maintain proper pointer relationships between the device driver data and the SPI controller context. When the driver attempts to access cqspi->f_pdata, which contains uninitialized memory, this memory corruption becomes apparent on specific hardware platforms such as the Mobileye EyeQ5. The corruption specifically impacts the controller's bus lock mutex (ctlr->bus_lock_mutex) which is inadvertently initialized with uninitialized memory values, creating a dangerous condition where the mutex functionality becomes compromised and potentially leads to race conditions or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption to potentially compromise system stability and security integrity within embedded systems that utilize the cadence-qspi driver. On the Mobileye EyeQ5 platform, the uninitialized memory corruption is particularly concerning as it affects critical driver functionality that governs SPI communication protocols, which are fundamental to various system operations including sensor data processing and device control. The vulnerability creates a potential attack surface where malicious actors could exploit the corrupted mutex behavior to gain unauthorized access to shared resources or cause system crashes. This flaw aligns with CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable and demonstrates how improper memory management can lead to serious security implications in embedded systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate kernel updates that address the pointer reference issue in the runtime power management hooks of the cadence-qspi driver. System administrators and embedded developers should prioritize applying the patched kernel versions that properly embed the device driver data structures and ensure correct initialization of all memory regions before usage. The fix should implement proper pointer validation and initialization routines that prevent the scenario where dev_get_drvdata() retrieves pointers to uninitialized memory regions. Additionally, implementing comprehensive memory sanitization checks and runtime validation mechanisms can help detect similar issues in other driver components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles for system integrity protection, particularly in embedded environments where driver-level vulnerabilities can have cascading effects on overall system security and reliability.