Linux Kernel up to 6.1.95/6.6.35/6.9.6 tty kernel/printk/printk.c con_write privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
5.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.95/6.6.35/6.9.6 and classified as problematic. The impacted element is the function con_write of the file kernel/printk/printk.c of the component tty. This manipulation causes an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2024-40966. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.95/6.6.35/6.9.6. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function con_write of the file kernel/printk/printk.c of the component tty. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tty: add the option to have a tty reject a new ldisc ... and use it to limit the virtual terminals to just N_TTY. They are kind of special, and in particular, the "con_write()" routine violates the "writes cannot sleep" rule that some ldiscs rely on. This avoids the BUG: sleeping function called from invalid context at kernel/printk/printk.c:2659 when N_GSM has been attached to a virtual console, and gsmld_write() calls con_write() while holding a spinlock, and con_write() then tries to get the console lock.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2024-40966 since 07/12/2024. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 211811 (EulerOS 2.0 SP12 : kernel (EulerOS-SA-2024-2923)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.96, 6.6.36 or 6.9.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3c6332f3bb15/287b569a5b91/5920ac19964f/6bd23e0c2bb6 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (211811). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privilege escalation
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 211811
Nessus Name: EulerOS 2.0 SP12 : kernel (EulerOS-SA-2024-2923)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.96/6.6.36/6.9.7
Patch: 3c6332f3bb15/287b569a5b91/5920ac19964f/6bd23e0c2bb6

Timelineinfo

07/12/2024 🔍
07/12/2024 +0 days 🔍
07/12/2024 +0 days 🔍
10/07/2025 +451 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2024-40966 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2024-40966
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-271267

Entryinfo

Created: 07/12/2024 16:47
Updated: 10/07/2025 00:17
Changes: 07/12/2024 16:47 (58), 11/25/2024 21:46 (2), 10/07/2025 00:17 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

Do you need the next level of professionalism?

Upgrade your account now!