CVE-2024-58066 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
clk: mmp: pxa1908-apbcp: Fix a NULL vs IS_ERR() check
The devm_kzalloc() function doesn't return error pointers, it returns NULL on error. Update the check to match.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2024-58066 addresses a critical flaw in the Linux kernel's clock management subsystem, specifically within the pxa1908-apbcp driver that handles clock control for Marvell PXA1908 processors. This issue represents a classic null pointer dereference scenario that could lead to system instability or potential exploitation. The vulnerability resides in how the driver handles memory allocation error checking, creating a condition where improper validation could result in kernel crashes or unexpected behavior. The affected component operates within the kernel's device management framework, specifically managing clock domains for embedded systems that require precise timing control. This type of error falls under the category of improper error handling, which is classified as CWE-476 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing a null pointer dereference vulnerability.
The technical flaw manifests in the incorrect validation of memory allocation results from the devm_kzalloc() function. This function, designed for device-managed memory allocation, returns NULL upon allocation failure rather than error pointers as might be expected. However, the code was implementing an IS_ERR() check, which is specifically designed to validate error pointer return values from functions that may return either valid pointers or error codes. This mismatch creates a scenario where valid NULL return values are incorrectly interpreted as error conditions, potentially leading to the kernel attempting to dereference NULL pointers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where such errors can result in complete system crashes or privilege escalation opportunities. The issue demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the return value semantics of device-managed memory allocation functions, which is a common pattern in Linux kernel development but requires careful attention to proper validation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially affect embedded devices running on PXA1908 processors, including various mobile devices, embedded systems, and IoT platforms that rely on this specific clock controller implementation. When the kernel attempts to process a NULL pointer as if it were a valid memory reference, it can trigger immediate system crashes or more subtle memory corruption issues that may not manifest immediately but could lead to persistent system instability. The vulnerability affects the kernel's ability to properly manage clock resources for the APBCP (APB Clock Controller) subsystem, which is responsible for controlling various peripheral clocks in the processor. This could result in complete system lockups, particularly during critical system initialization phases or when clock management operations are required. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability could potentially be leveraged to achieve privilege escalation or denial of service conditions, as the kernel's error handling mechanism is compromised. The issue is particularly relevant in environments where embedded systems are deployed in security-critical applications or where system reliability is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-58066 focus primarily on applying the official kernel patch that corrects the NULL vs IS_ERR() validation logic. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize updating their kernel versions to include this fix, which resolves the improper error checking implementation by changing the validation from IS_ERR() to NULL comparison for devm_kzalloc() return values. The patch ensures that the driver properly recognizes that device-managed memory allocation functions return NULL on failure rather than error pointers, preventing the kernel from attempting to process invalid memory references. Organizations should also implement comprehensive testing procedures to verify that the fix does not introduce any regressions in clock management functionality or affect other system components that depend on similar memory allocation patterns. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect any unusual kernel behavior or crashes that might indicate improper handling of memory allocation errors. The fix aligns with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for kernel-level vulnerabilities, specifically addressing techniques related to privilege escalation and system stability compromise by ensuring proper error handling mechanisms are maintained. Regular kernel updates and vulnerability assessments should be maintained to prevent similar issues from arising in other kernel subsystems that may employ similar memory allocation patterns.