CVE-2024-43877 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: pci: ivtv: Add check for DMA map result
In case DMA fails, 'dma->SG_length' is 0. This value is later used to access 'dma->SGarray[dma->SG_length - 1]', which will cause out of
bounds access.
Add check to return early on invalid value. Adjust warnings accordingly.
Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-43877 resides within the Linux kernel's media subsystem, specifically in the pci ivtv driver component that handles integrated video television capture devices. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs during Direct Memory Access operations, where the system fails to properly validate DMA mapping results before proceeding with subsequent operations. The issue manifests when the DMA mapping process returns an invalid result, causing the system to set dma->SG_length to zero, which subsequently leads to dangerous memory access patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the DMA mapping error handling routine. When the DMA mapping operation fails, the system correctly identifies this failure but fails to properly terminate the execution path. Instead, the code continues execution with dma->SG_length set to zero, creating a scenario where the code attempts to access memory location dma->SGarray[dma->SG_length - 1] which translates to dma->SGarray[-1]. This negative indexing results in out-of-bounds memory access that can potentially corrupt adjacent memory regions or cause system instability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an "Improper Validation of Array Index" and specifically represents an out-of-bounds read condition that could be exploited for memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it could potentially enable privilege escalation or denial of service conditions within systems utilizing ivtv PCI video capture devices. Attackers could potentially trigger the vulnerability through malformed DMA operations or by exploiting the driver's handling of specific video capture scenarios, leading to system crashes or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution context. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels with the ivtv driver enabled, particularly those implementing PCI-based video capture hardware such as TV tuner cards, digital video recorders, and multimedia applications. The issue was discovered through systematic verification by the Linux Verification Center using SVACE static analysis tools, highlighting the importance of automated security verification in kernel development processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-43877 should prioritize immediate kernel updates from trusted sources, as the vulnerability has been addressed in recent kernel releases through the addition of proper early return checks when DMA mapping fails. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the necessary kernel updates. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual DMA operation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented addresses the root cause by adding validation checks that return early when dma->SG_length is zero, preventing the subsequent out-of-bounds memory access. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization and stack canaries to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts. Organizations utilizing legacy systems should conduct thorough compatibility testing to ensure that kernel updates do not disrupt existing video capture applications or hardware functionality.