CVE-2024-49995 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
tipc: guard against string buffer overrun
Smatch reports that copying media_name and if_name to name_parts may overwrite the destination.
.../bearer.c:166 bearer_name_validate() error: strcpy() 'media_name' too large for 'name_parts->media_name' (32 vs 16) .../bearer.c:167 bearer_name_validate() error: strcpy() 'if_name' too large for 'name_parts->if_name' (1010102 vs 16)
This does seem to be the case so guard against this possibility by using strscpy() and failing if truncation occurs.
Introduced by commit b97bf3fd8f6a ("[TIPC] Initial merge")
Compile tested only.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49995 affects the Linux kernel's TIPC (Transparent Inter-Process Communication) subsystem, specifically within the bearer.c file where buffer overflow protection mechanisms are insufficient. This issue arises from improper string handling during the validation of network bearer names, creating a potential security risk that could be exploited to cause system instability or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability was introduced by commit b97bf3fd8f6a titled "[TIPC] Initial merge" and represents a classic buffer overrun scenario that has been flagged by static analysis tools like Smatch.
The technical flaw manifests in the bearer_name_validate() function where the kernel attempts to copy media_name and if_name strings into predefined destination buffers within the name_parts structure. The Smatch analysis reveals that media_name can exceed the 16-byte limit of name_parts->media_name buffer, while if_name can overflow the 16-byte limit of name_parts->if_name buffer, with reported sizes of 32 vs 16 and 1010102 vs 16 respectively. This represents a direct violation of the principle of safe string handling and demonstrates inadequate bounds checking in kernel space code. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, specifically involving improper string copying operations that exceed buffer boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple buffer corruption, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures through carefully crafted network bearer names. When the kernel processes network interface names and media types through the TIPC subsystem, an attacker could exploit this flaw to cause kernel panics, denial of service conditions, or potentially achieve privilege escalation depending on the execution context. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels that incorporate the TIPC networking protocol, particularly those utilizing network bearer configurations that pass through the affected validation function. This represents a critical security concern for enterprise networks and embedded systems that rely on TIPC for inter-process communication.
The fix implemented addresses the vulnerability by replacing the unsafe strcpy() operations with strscpy() function calls that provide automatic truncation checking and return error codes when buffer limits are exceeded. This defensive programming approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices recommended by the ATT&CK framework's defense evasion techniques. The solution ensures that when string copying operations would result in buffer overflows, the system fails gracefully rather than allowing memory corruption to occur. The mitigation strategy follows established kernel security guidelines that emphasize the importance of bounds checking and safe string operations in kernel space code. The fix has been compile-tested and represents a minimal but effective change that preserves existing functionality while eliminating the potential for buffer overflow exploitation. This remediation approach demonstrates the importance of static analysis tools in identifying kernel vulnerabilities and the necessity of implementing proper string handling mechanisms in security-critical system components.