CVE-2024-36921 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/30/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: guard against invalid STA ID on removal
Guard against invalid station IDs in iwl_mvm_mld_rm_sta_id as that would result in out-of-bounds array accesses. This prevents issues should the driver get into a bad state during error handling.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-36921 affects the Linux kernel's iwlwifi wireless driver implementation, specifically within the iwl_mvm_mld_rm_sta_id function. This issue represents a critical memory safety flaw that could potentially lead to system instability or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of station identifiers during wireless network management operations, creating a scenario where invalid station IDs could trigger out-of-bounds memory accesses within the driver's internal data structures.
The technical flaw manifests when the iwlwifi driver processes station removal operations in managed mode wireless networks. During normal operation, the driver maintains internal arrays that map station identifiers to their corresponding data structures. However, when error handling paths are executed, the driver fails to validate that the station ID being processed corresponds to a valid entry in these internal arrays. This validation gap allows for scenarios where a malformed or invalid station ID could cause the driver to attempt memory accesses beyond the bounds of allocated arrays, potentially leading to memory corruption or system crashes.
This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the wireless subsystem, specifically affecting the iwlwifi driver's management of wireless stations in managed mode networks. The operational impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable privilege escalation or denial of service conditions, as the memory corruption could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to kernel memory spaces or cause complete system instability.
The security implications of this vulnerability are significant for systems relying on Intel wireless network adapters, particularly those using the iwlwifi driver. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness during normal wireless network operations or during error recovery scenarios, leading to system compromise or service disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where wireless network management is critical, such as enterprise networks, IoT deployments, or embedded systems that rely on stable wireless connectivity.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the latest kernel updates that include the patched version of the iwlwifi driver. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running kernel versions prior to the fix release. Additionally, monitoring network error logs for unusual station management events or memory access violations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential impact should exploitation occur. The fix implemented in the patched kernel version enforces proper validation of station IDs before array access operations, eliminating the out-of-bounds memory access conditions that previously enabled this vulnerability.