CVE-2024-57973 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
rdma/cxgb4: Prevent potential integer overflow on 32bit
The "gl->tot_len" variable is controlled by the user. It comes from process_responses(). On 32bit systems, the "gl->tot_len + sizeof(struct cpl_pass_accept_req) + sizeof(struct rss_header)" addition could have an integer wrapping bug. Use size_add() to prevent this.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-57973 resides within the Linux kernel's RDMA implementation, specifically affecting the cxgb4 driver component. This issue manifests as a potential integer overflow condition that could be exploited on 32-bit systems, representing a critical security concern for affected deployments. The flaw occurs within the network driver's handling of RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) operations, where user-controllable data is processed without proper overflow protection mechanisms.
The technical root cause involves the gl->tot_len variable which originates from user-space input through the process_responses() function. This variable represents a length parameter that controls memory allocation and processing within the driver's receive processing pipeline. When operating on 32-bit architectures, the arithmetic operation involving gl->tot_len plus the sizes of two structures - struct cpl_pass_accept_req and struct rss_header - can result in integer wraparound behavior. This occurs because the sum of these values exceeds the maximum representable value for a 32-bit integer, causing the calculation to wrap around to a much smaller value, potentially leading to memory corruption or unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it could enable privilege escalation or denial of service conditions within systems utilizing RDMA networking capabilities. Attackers with access to the affected system could potentially craft malicious network packets that trigger the integer overflow, leading to system instability or unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where RDMA is commonly deployed for high-performance networking, as it could be exploited to compromise network infrastructure components. The issue affects systems running 32-bit Linux kernels where the cxgb4 driver is actively used for RDMA operations.
The fix implemented addresses this vulnerability by utilizing the size_add() function which provides proper bounds checking for size calculations. This function prevents integer overflow conditions by detecting when an arithmetic operation would exceed the maximum representable value and handling such cases appropriately. This approach aligns with the CWE-190 principle of integer overflow/underflow prevention and follows the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The solution ensures that all size calculations involving user-provided data are properly validated before being used in memory allocation or processing operations. Organizations should prioritize applying this kernel update to prevent exploitation of this integer overflow vulnerability, particularly in environments where RDMA networking is utilized for high-performance computing or data center networking operations. The mitigation strategy emphasizes the importance of proper input validation and arithmetic overflow protection in kernel space drivers, reinforcing fundamental security principles for system-level programming practices.