CVE-2024-36880 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/30/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Bluetooth: qca: add missing firmware sanity checks
Add the missing sanity checks when parsing the firmware files before downloading them to avoid accessing and corrupting memory beyond the vmalloced buffer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-36880 represents a critical security flaw within the Linux kernel's Bluetooth subsystem, specifically affecting the Qualcomm Atheros (qca) Bluetooth driver implementation. This issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms during firmware file processing, creating potential pathways for memory corruption and system instability. The vulnerability manifests in the qca Bluetooth driver's firmware parsing routine where inadequate sanity checks fail to validate the integrity and boundaries of firmware data before memory operations occur.
The technical flaw resides in the firmware parsing logic where the system attempts to download firmware files to memory buffers without proper validation of the firmware file structure or size constraints. When the qca driver processes firmware files, it allocates virtual memory using vmalloc operations and subsequently attempts to copy firmware data into these buffers. However, the missing sanity checks allow for malformed or oversized firmware data to be processed, potentially causing the driver to write beyond the allocated vmalloced buffer boundaries. This memory corruption vulnerability can result in arbitrary code execution or system crashes, as the driver may overwrite adjacent memory regions or corrupt kernel data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially enable privilege escalation and remote code execution attacks. An attacker capable of supplying malicious firmware files could exploit this flaw to corrupt kernel memory, leading to denial of service conditions or more severe consequences including system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels with the qca Bluetooth driver enabled, particularly those utilizing Qualcomm Atheros Bluetooth hardware components. The memory corruption could manifest as kernel panics, system hangs, or more insidiously, allow for privilege escalation attacks that could compromise the entire system.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses "Improper Validation of Array Index," and CWE-787, which covers "Out-of-bounds Write." The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through kernel modules and T1543.003 for privilege escalation via kernel exploits. Mitigation strategies should include immediate kernel updates from vendors to address the firmware sanity check implementation. System administrators should also implement firmware validation procedures and monitor for unauthorized firmware modifications. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in kernel space operations and the necessity of robust memory boundary checks in device driver implementations. The fix implemented by the Linux kernel team involves adding comprehensive firmware file validation routines that verify buffer sizes, data integrity, and structural consistency before any memory operations are performed, thereby preventing the out-of-bounds memory access patterns that could lead to system compromise.