CVE-2024-6501 in NetworkManager
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2024
A flaw was found in NetworkManager. When a system running NetworkManager with DEBUG logs enabled and an interface eth1 configured with LLDP enabled, a malicious user could inject a malformed LLDP packet. NetworkManager would crash, leading to a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6501 resides within NetworkManager, a critical network configuration daemon widely deployed across enterprise and consumer Linux systems. This flaw specifically manifests when multiple conditions are met simultaneously: DEBUG logging must be enabled on the system, the eth1 network interface must be configured with LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) functionality active, and a malicious actor must inject a malformed LLDP packet into the network traffic. The intersection of these specific configurations creates a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by adversaries with network access to the affected system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within NetworkManager's LLDP processing module. When LLDP packets are received on an interface where LLDP is enabled, the daemon processes these packets to discover network topology information and device capabilities. However, the implementation fails to properly sanitize or validate malformed LLDP packets, particularly when DEBUG logging is active. The DEBUG logging mechanism amplifies this issue by providing extensive internal state information that can be leveraged by attackers to understand the daemon's memory layout and processing behavior. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input ranges, and CWE-707, which covers improper neutralization of input during web application processing. The lack of proper bounds checking and input sanitization in the LLDP packet parsing logic creates a classic buffer over-read condition that can lead to memory corruption and subsequent daemon crash.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-6501 represents a significant denial of service threat that can severely disrupt network connectivity and system availability. When NetworkManager crashes due to the malformed LLDP packet injection, the affected system loses its ability to manage network connections properly, potentially causing complete network outages for services running on that host. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where NetworkManager is extensively used for managing complex network topologies, as a single compromised endpoint could potentially disrupt network operations across multiple systems. The attack requires only network access to the target system and does not require elevated privileges or authentication, making it an attractive vector for adversaries seeking to disrupt network services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004, which covers network disruption through denial of service, and T1566.001, which covers spearphishing through social engineering to gain initial access. The vulnerability's exploitation can be automated and does not require specialized knowledge beyond basic network packet crafting capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6501 should focus on immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate mitigation is to disable LLDP functionality on interfaces where it is not strictly required, particularly in environments where the risk of network-based attacks is elevated. Organizations should also consider disabling DEBUG logging on production systems where possible, as this logging level significantly increases the attack surface and provides attackers with valuable information about the daemon's internal state. Network segmentation and firewall rules can be implemented to limit LLDP packet transmission to only trusted network segments, reducing the attack surface for this specific vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on malformed LLDP packets, providing early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular patching and updates of NetworkManager components should be prioritized, as this vulnerability is likely to be addressed through official security updates from distribution vendors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly in network daemon applications that must handle untrusted input from external sources, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for secure system development and operation.