CVE-2024-50027 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
thermal: core: Free tzp copy along with the thermal zone
The object pointed to by tz->tzp may still be accessed after being freed in thermal_zone_device_unregister(), so move the freeing of it to the point after the removal completion has been completed at which it cannot be accessed any more.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-50027 resides within the Linux kernel's thermal management subsystem, specifically in the thermal zone core functionality. This issue represents a classic use-after-free condition that can potentially lead to system instability or security implications. The thermal zone framework in Linux is responsible for managing temperature sensors and cooling devices across various hardware components, making it a critical subsystem for system health monitoring and power management. When thermal zones are unregistered, the kernel attempts to clean up associated resources, but a timing issue exists in the resource deallocation process that creates opportunities for memory corruption.
The technical flaw manifests in the thermal_zone_device_unregister() function where the thermal zone policy structure tz->tzp is freed prematurely in relation to when all references to it are completed. This creates a window where other kernel components might still attempt to access the memory location previously occupied by tz->tzp, leading to potential null pointer dereferences, data corruption, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability stems from improper resource management where the freeing operation occurs before all potential access points have been guaranteed to complete their operations, violating fundamental memory safety principles that are crucial in kernel space programming.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it could enable an attacker with local privileges to potentially escalate their access or cause denial of service conditions. In embedded systems or server environments where thermal management is critical, such a vulnerability could lead to system instability during temperature monitoring or cooling operations, potentially causing hardware damage or system failures. The timing aspect of the vulnerability means that exploitation might be challenging but not impossible, particularly in environments with high thermal activity or concurrent access patterns. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in containerized environments or virtualized systems where multiple processes might interact with thermal management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-50027 should focus on applying the kernel patches that address the improper resource deallocation timing. System administrators should prioritize updating to kernel versions that contain the fix, typically those released after the vulnerability disclosure. The fix involves reordering the resource cleanup operations to ensure that tz->tzp is freed only after all potential access points have completed their operations, effectively closing the race condition. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual thermal management behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-415 which addresses double free errors and CWE-416 which covers use after free conditions, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues in kernel programming. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged for privilege escalation or denial of service as part of broader attack chains targeting system stability and resource management functions. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel memory protection features and runtime monitoring to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.