CVE-2024-36010 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/22/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
igb: Fix string truncation warnings in igb_set_fw_version
Commit 1978d3ead82c ("intel: fix string truncation warnings") fixes '-Wformat-truncation=' warnings in igb_main.c by using kasprintf.
drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c:3092:53: warning：‘%d’ directive output may be truncated writing between 1 and 5 bytes into a region of size between 1 and 13 [-Wformat-truncation=]
3092 | "%d.%d, 0x%08x, %d.%d.%d", | ^~ drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c:3092:34: note：directive argument in the range [0, 65535]
3092 | "%d.%d, 0x%08x, %d.%d.%d", | ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c:3092:34: note：directive argument in the range [0, 65535]
drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c:3090:25: note：‘snprintf’ output between 23 and 43 bytes into a destination of size 32
kasprintf() returns a pointer to dynamically allocated memory which can be NULL upon failure.
Fix this warning by using a larger space for adapter->fw_version, and then fall back and continue to use snprintf.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-36010 addresses a string truncation issue within the Intel Gigabit Ethernet (igb) driver in the Linux kernel. This flaw manifests as a warning during compilation when the compiler detects potential buffer overflows in the igb_set_fw_version function. The specific warning originates from the drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c file at line 3092, where the format string "%d.%d, 0x%08x, %d.%d.%d" is used with snprintf function. The issue occurs because the format specifiers expect integer values in the range of 0 to 65535, but the destination buffer size of 32 bytes may not accommodate the full output, particularly when dealing with the fourth and fifth %d format specifiers that represent version components.
The technical root cause stems from improper buffer management in the firmware version string handling mechanism. When the igb driver attempts to format and store firmware version information, it uses snprintf with a fixed-size buffer that cannot guarantee sufficient space for all possible integer values in the format string. This creates a potential security risk through buffer overflow conditions that could be exploited to corrupt memory or potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The problem specifically affects the kernel's network driver subsystem where the igb driver manages Intel Gigabit Ethernet hardware components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple compilation warnings to potential system stability and security concerns within kernel space operations. When the firmware version string is processed, the truncation could lead to incomplete version information being stored or displayed, potentially affecting system diagnostics and firmware management capabilities. The vulnerability represents a code quality issue that could be leveraged in combination with other flaws to create more serious security exploits. The fix implemented in commit 1978d3ead82c addresses this by replacing the problematic snprintf usage with kasprintf, which dynamically allocates memory for the formatted string. However, this approach introduces a new potential failure point where kasprintf could return NULL, requiring proper error handling to prevent system crashes or denial of service conditions.
The mitigation strategy involves updating to the patched kernel version that incorporates the fix from commit 1978d3ead82c, ensuring that the igb driver properly handles firmware version string formatting. System administrators should prioritize kernel updates, particularly on systems running Intel Gigabit Ethernet hardware where the igb driver is actively used. The fix demonstrates proper secure coding practices by using dynamic memory allocation instead of fixed-size buffers, though it requires careful error handling for the NULL return case from kasprintf. Organizations should implement monitoring for kernel update completion and verify that network drivers are properly patched across their infrastructure to prevent exploitation of this class of vulnerabilities that could potentially be used for privilege escalation or system compromise. The resolution aligns with industry best practices for secure kernel development and follows the principle of least privilege in buffer management operations.