CVE-2024-46715 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/18/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
driver: iio: add missing checks on iio_info's callback access
Some callbacks from iio_info structure are accessed without any check, so if a driver doesn't implement them trying to access the corresponding sysfs entries produce a kernel oops such as:
[ 2203.527791] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000 when execute
[...]
[ 2203.783416] Call trace:
[ 2203.783429] iio_read_channel_info_avail from dev_attr_show+0x18/0x48
[ 2203.789807] dev_attr_show from sysfs_kf_seq_show+0x90/0x120
[ 2203.794181] sysfs_kf_seq_show from seq_read_iter+0xd0/0x4e4
[ 2203.798555] seq_read_iter from vfs_read+0x238/0x2a0
[ 2203.802236] vfs_read from ksys_read+0xa4/0xd4
[ 2203.805385] ksys_read from ret_fast_syscall+0x0/0x54
[ 2203.809135] Exception stack(0xe0badfa8 to 0xe0badff0)
[ 2203.812880] dfa0: 00000003 b6f10f80 00000003 b6eab000 00020000 00000000
[ 2203.819746] dfc0: 00000003 b6f10f80 7ff00000 00000003 00000003 00000000 00020000 00000000
[ 2203.826619] dfe0: b6e1bc88 bed80958 b6e1bc94 b6e1bcb0
[ 2203.830363] Code: bad PC value
[ 2203.832695] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-46715 resides within the Linux kernel's Industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem, specifically addressing a critical flaw in how driver callbacks are handled within the iio_info structure. This issue represents a classic null pointer dereference vulnerability that can lead to kernel oops and system instability. The IIO subsystem serves as a framework for handling input/output operations from various sensors and devices, making it a critical component in embedded systems and industrial automation environments where device drivers must interact seamlessly with the kernel's device model.
The technical flaw manifests when drivers fail to properly implement certain callbacks within the iio_info structure, yet the kernel's sysfs interface continues to attempt accessing these unimplemented functions without proper validation. This oversight creates a scenario where accessing specific sysfs entries triggers a NULL pointer dereference at virtual address zero, causing the kernel to crash and resulting in a kernel oops condition. The call trace demonstrates the execution path leading to the failure, beginning with iio_read_channel_info_avail attempting to access a callback function that has not been implemented by the specific driver, ultimately propagating through the sysfs subsystem to the file reading operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions in systems relying on IIO device drivers. Attackers could potentially trigger these kernel oops by accessing specific sysfs entries corresponding to unimplemented callbacks, leading to system instability and potential data loss. In embedded systems and industrial environments where continuous operation is critical, such vulnerabilities can result in significant operational disruptions. The vulnerability affects the fundamental integrity of the IIO subsystem's callback mechanism, undermining the expected behavior of device drivers when interfacing with the kernel's sysfs interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-46715 focus on implementing proper null pointer checks before accessing callbacks within the iio_info structure. Kernel developers should ensure that all callback functions are properly validated before execution, with appropriate fallback mechanisms when callbacks are not implemented by specific drivers. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which addresses NULL pointer dereference issues, and demonstrates the importance of defensive programming practices in kernel development. The fix typically involves modifying the sysfs entry handling code to check whether callback functions exist before attempting to invoke them, preventing the kernel from crashing when encountering unimplemented functionality. Organizations should prioritize updating their kernel versions to include the patched implementation that addresses this specific callback validation issue within the IIO subsystem.