CVE-2024-27409 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
dmaengine: dw-edma: HDMA: Add sync read before starting the DMA transfer in remote setup
The Linked list element and pointer are not stored in the same memory as the HDMA controller register. If the doorbell register is toggled before the full write of the linked list a race condition error will occur. In remote setup we can only use a readl to the memory to assure the full write has occurred.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27409 affects the Linux kernel's dmaengine subsystem, specifically within the dw-edma driver implementation for HDMA (Hardware DMA) controllers. This issue resides in the device tree configuration and memory management aspects of DMA transfer initialization processes. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to establish DMA transfers in remote setup configurations where the hardware controller requires specific synchronization mechanisms before processing linked list elements. The vulnerability represents a race condition scenario that can lead to data corruption and system instability during DMA operations.
The technical root cause involves a fundamental timing issue in how the DMA controller handles linked list element storage and pointer management. The dw-edma driver implements a hardware DMA controller where linked list elements and their associated pointers are stored in separate memory regions from the HDMA controller registers. When the doorbell register is toggled to initiate a DMA transfer, the system must ensure that all linked list data has been completely written to memory before the hardware begins processing. However, without proper synchronization, a race condition occurs where the hardware may attempt to read incomplete data from memory, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system crashes.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of hardware-software interface management and memory consistency protocols within embedded systems. The issue is particularly significant in remote setup configurations where the DMA controller operates in a distributed memory environment. The race condition occurs because modern memory systems may not guarantee immediate visibility of writes across different memory domains, especially when dealing with hardware registers that have different access characteristics than regular memory locations. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems using DesignWare DMA engines in HDMA mode where the doorbell register toggle mechanism is employed.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-27409 extends beyond simple data corruption to potentially compromise system stability and reliability. In production environments utilizing embedded systems, automotive platforms, or industrial control systems that rely on DMA transfers for real-time data processing, this vulnerability could result in critical operational failures. The race condition may manifest as intermittent system crashes, data loss during transfers, or corrupted data streams that could affect safety-critical applications. Systems employing the affected dw-edma driver in remote setup configurations are particularly vulnerable, as these setups typically involve more complex memory management and synchronization requirements.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires implementing proper memory synchronization mechanisms before initiating DMA transfers in remote setup scenarios. The fix involves adding a sync read operation using readl() to memory locations before toggling the doorbell register, ensuring that all linked list data has been fully committed to memory. This approach addresses the underlying race condition by creating appropriate memory barriers that guarantee data consistency between the CPU cache and the DMA controller's memory access patterns. The solution aligns with established practices for managing memory consistency in concurrent systems and follows the principles outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework under CWE-362 for concurrent execution issues. This vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for system execution and T1566 for malicious file execution in scenarios where DMA operations could be exploited for privilege escalation or system compromise.