CVE-2024-57983 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mailbox: th1520: Fix memory corruption due to incorrect array size
The functions th1520_mbox_suspend_noirq and th1520_mbox_resume_noirq are intended to save and restore the interrupt mask registers in the MBOX ICU0. However, the array used to store these registers was incorrectly sized, leading to memory corruption when accessing all four registers.
This commit corrects the array size to accommodate all four interrupt mask registers, preventing memory corruption during suspend and resume operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-57983 resides within the Linux kernel's mailbox driver implementation, specifically affecting the th1520 mailbox controller. This issue represents a classic memory corruption flaw that can severely impact system stability and security during power management operations. The vulnerability manifests in the th1520 mailbox suspend and resume functionality where the kernel attempts to preserve and restore interrupt mask registers within the MBOX ICU0 hardware component. The underlying problem stems from an incorrect array sizing decision that directly violates fundamental memory management principles and system reliability requirements.
The technical flaw occurs in the th1520_mbox_suspend_noirq and th1520_mbox_resume_noirq functions which are designed to manage the preservation of interrupt mask register states during system suspend operations. These functions are responsible for maintaining the integrity of interrupt handling mechanisms by saving current register values before system sleep and restoring them upon wake. The array allocated for storing these register values was sized incorrectly to accommodate only a subset of the actual interrupt mask registers required by the hardware. According to CWE-129, this represents an implementation error where insufficient bounds checking or incorrect array sizing leads to memory corruption vulnerabilities. The specific violation occurs when the code attempts to access all four interrupt mask registers but only allocates space for fewer registers, creating a buffer overflow condition that can overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption to potentially compromise system stability and security during critical power management operations. When the system enters suspend mode and attempts to save interrupt mask register states, the incorrect array size causes writes to memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable system behavior including kernel panics, system crashes, or more insidiously, silent data corruption that may persist until system reboot. During resume operations, the corrupted memory state can cause the system to restore invalid interrupt configurations, potentially leading to interrupt handling failures or even privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability affects systems utilizing the th1520 mailbox controller hardware, particularly those implementing suspend/resume functionality, making it relevant to embedded systems, mobile devices, and servers that rely on proper power management protocols.
The fix for CVE-2024-57983 involves correcting the array size allocation to properly accommodate all four interrupt mask registers required by the MBOX ICU0 hardware component. This remediation directly addresses the root cause by ensuring that the memory buffer allocated for register state preservation matches the actual number of registers that need to be saved and restored. The solution follows established security practices for memory management and buffer allocation, preventing the memory corruption that could otherwise occur during suspend and resume operations. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited by adversaries seeking to compromise system stability or potentially leverage the memory corruption for privilege escalation, though the primary risk lies in system reliability rather than direct security compromise. The fix demonstrates proper software engineering practices including bounds checking, correct array sizing, and adherence to hardware specification requirements. This vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous testing of power management code paths and proper validation of memory allocations in kernel drivers, particularly those handling critical system state transitions. The resolution ensures that the mailbox driver maintains proper interrupt handling integrity during system power management operations while adhering to the principle of least privilege and system stability requirements essential for embedded and mobile computing environments.