CVE-2024-50281 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
KEYS: trusted: dcp: fix NULL dereference in AEAD crypto operation
When sealing or unsealing a key blob we currently do not wait for the AEAD cipher operation to finish and simply return after submitting the request. If there is some load on the system we can exit before the cipher operation is done and the buffer we read from/write to is already removed from the stack. This will e.g. result in NULL pointer dereference errors in the DCP driver during blob creation.
Fix this by waiting for the AEAD cipher operation to finish before resuming the seal and unseal calls.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2024-50281 represents a critical null pointer dereference issue within the Linux kernel's key management subsystem, specifically affecting the trusted key storage mechanism that utilizes the Data Center Processor (DCP) crypto operations. This flaw exists in the kernel's handling of AEAD (Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data) cipher operations during key sealing and unsealing processes, creating a race condition that can lead to system instability and potential security implications.
The technical root cause stems from improper synchronization during cryptographic operations within the kernel's key management framework. When the system attempts to seal or unseal key blobs using the DCP driver, the kernel fails to properly await completion of the underlying AEAD cipher operations before returning control to the calling process. This premature return allows the system to continue execution while cryptographic operations are still in progress, leading to memory management issues where buffers may be deallocated from the stack before cryptographic operations complete. The vulnerability manifests as a NULL pointer dereference error within the DCP driver during blob creation, which occurs when the system attempts to access memory locations that have already been freed or are otherwise invalid.
This vulnerability operates under the broader context of kernel memory management and concurrent processing issues, aligning with CWE-476 which addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with race conditions and improper synchronization mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in multi-threaded or high-load system environments where the timing of operations can trigger the problematic code path. The operational impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially compromise the integrity of the key management system, which could allow unauthorized access to sensitive cryptographic keys stored within the system.
The security implications of CVE-2024-50281 are significant as it affects the fundamental cryptographic infrastructure of Linux systems, potentially enabling attackers to exploit the system instability for privilege escalation or denial of service attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the trusted key subsystem, which is critical for secure key storage and retrieval operations in enterprise environments and security-sensitive applications. From an operational standpoint, this flaw can cause unpredictable system behavior, kernel panics, and complete system crashes during normal key management operations, making it a critical priority for system administrators to address through timely kernel updates.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of kernel updates that implement proper synchronization mechanisms to ensure AEAD cipher operations complete before returning control to the calling process. The fix involves adding explicit wait mechanisms to ensure cryptographic operations finish before resuming seal and unseal calls, preventing the premature return that leads to memory deallocation issues. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running kernel versions containing the vulnerable trusted key subsystem implementation. Additionally, monitoring for system instability or kernel panic messages related to DCP driver operations should be implemented as part of defensive measures, with security teams preparing incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The fix aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.001 which involves privilege escalation through kernel exploits, making it essential for organizations to address this vulnerability as part of their overall security posture and compliance requirements.