CVE-2024-53226 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/27/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
RDMA/hns: Fix NULL pointer derefernce in hns_roce_map_mr_sg()
ib_map_mr_sg() allows ULPs to specify NULL as the sg_offset argument. The driver needs to check whether it is a NULL pointer before dereferencing it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2024-53226 represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw within the Linux kernel's RDMA hardware driver implementation, specifically affecting the hns_roce_map_mr_sg() function. This issue resides in the HNS (Huawei Networking Solutions) RDMA driver component that manages memory registration and scatter-gather operations for high-performance networking. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation that can lead to system instability and potential privilege escalation scenarios.
The technical flaw occurs when the ib_map_mr_sg() function receives a NULL pointer as the sg_offset argument from upper-layer protocols or user-space applications. This function serves as an interface for mapping memory regions to scatter-gather lists in RDMA operations, which are essential for high-speed data transfer between networked systems. When the hns_roce_map_mr_sg() driver function attempts to dereference this NULL pointer without proper validation, it results in an immediate system crash or kernel panic. The vulnerability stems from inadequate defensive programming practices where the driver fails to perform basic null pointer checks before accessing memory references, creating a classic condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to cause denial of service attacks.
This vulnerability impacts systems utilizing Huawei's RDMA hardware implementations and affects any kernel version containing the vulnerable hns_roce driver code. The operational consequences extend beyond simple system crashes, as the flaw can be triggered through legitimate RDMA operations when user-space applications or network protocols pass invalid parameters to the kernel driver. The attack surface is particularly concerning in high-performance computing environments, data centers, and network infrastructure where RDMA is extensively deployed for low-latency communication. According to CWE-476, this represents a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability that can be exploited to cause system instability and potentially allow privilege escalation or information disclosure.
The mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation within the hns_roce_map_mr_sg() function to check for NULL pointer conditions before attempting any dereference operations. Kernel developers should incorporate defensive programming practices that align with the principle of least privilege and input validation. System administrators should apply the latest kernel updates from their distribution vendors, as this vulnerability has been addressed in recent kernel releases. Organizations using RDMA-enabled systems should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous RDMA operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves adding a simple conditional check to verify that the sg_offset parameter is not NULL before proceeding with the memory mapping operations, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for avoiding system disruptions and maintaining operational continuity in enterprise environments.