CVE-2024-57492 in relibc
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2025
An issue in redoxOS relibc before commit 98aa4ea5 allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service via the round_up_to_page funciton.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-57492 resides within the redoxOS operating system's relibc library, specifically targeting a function named round_up_to_page. This issue represents a denial of service condition that can be exploited by local attackers who possess system access. The vulnerability stems from improper handling within the memory management routines of the operating system's standard library implementation, where the round_up_to_page function fails to properly validate input parameters or handle edge cases during memory page alignment operations. The affected version of relibc predates commit 98aa4ea5, indicating that this flaw has been present in the codebase for some time and represents a regression or oversight in the memory management subsystem.
The technical flaw manifests when the round_up_to_page function processes memory addresses that fall outside expected ranges or when it encounters malformed input during page alignment calculations. This can result in integer overflow conditions, invalid memory access patterns, or memory corruption that ultimately leads to system instability and denial of service. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the userspace library implementation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by any process running on the system. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129, which deals with insufficient validation of length of input buffers, and CWE-191, which addresses integer underflow or overflow conditions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1499.004 for network denial of service and potentially T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as local attackers could leverage this to disrupt system services.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-57492 extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect the entire system stability and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code. When triggered, the vulnerability can cause system crashes, application failures, or complete system hangs that require manual intervention for recovery. The local nature of the attack means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for multi-user environments or systems with untrusted local users. The memory management functions affected by this vulnerability are likely used extensively throughout the operating system, amplifying the potential impact of any single exploitation attempt.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate code updates to incorporate the fix introduced in commit 98aa4ea5, which addresses the specific handling of page alignment calculations. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing proper input validation measures within the relibc library. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual memory access patterns, implementing process isolation techniques, and ensuring that system updates are applied promptly to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult. The fix should include comprehensive input validation, proper boundary checking, and robust error handling within the round_up_to_page function to prevent the conditions that lead to the denial of service state.