Linux Kernel up to 6.9.9 netfilter nf_tables_check_loops stack-based overflow

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.9.9. This affects the function nf_tables_check_loops of the component netfilter. Performing a manipulation results in stack-based overflow. This vulnerability was named CVE-2024-41042. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.9.9. This affects the function nf_tables_check_loops of the component netfilter. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a stack-based overflow vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-121. A stack-based buffer overflow condition is a condition where the buffer being overwritten is allocated on the stack (i.e., is a local variable or, rarely, a parameter to a function). This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: prefer nft_chain_validate nft_chain_validate already performs loop detection because a cycle will result in a call stack overflow (ctx->level >= NFT_JUMP_STACK_SIZE). It also follows maps via ->validate callback in nft_lookup, so there appears no reason to iterate the maps again. nf_tables_check_loops() and all its helper functions can be removed. This improves ruleset load time significantly, from 23s down to 12s. This also fixes a crash bug. Old loop detection code can result in unbounded recursion: BUG: TASK stack guard page was hit at .... Oops: stack guard page: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN CPU: 4 PID: 1539 Comm: nft Not tainted 6.10.0-rc5+ #1 [..] with a suitable ruleset during validation of register stores. I can't see any actual reason to attempt to check for this from nft_validate_register_store(), at this point the transaction is still in progress, so we don't have a full picture of the rule graph. For nf-next it might make sense to either remove it or make this depend on table->validate_state in case we could catch an error earlier (for improved error reporting to userspace).

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2024-41042 since 07/12/2024. The exploitability is told to be easy. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/25/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 207884 (openSUSE 15 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2024:3483-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.9.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9df785aeb7dc/cff3bd012a95 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 databases at Tenable (207884) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2024-1722). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• IBM InfoSphere Guardium
• Oracle Linux
• NetApp FAS
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• Siemens SIMATIC S7
• Oracle VM
• IBM Security Guardium
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Broadcom Brocade SANnav
• Dell PowerScale
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Dell integrated Dell Remote Access Controller
• Dell Avamar
• IBM Storage Scale
• IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
• Juniper Junos Space
• IBM Storage Scale System
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Dell PowerProtect Data Domain
• Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Management Center
• Dell PowerProtect Data Domain OS

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.9.0
• 6.9.1
• 6.9.2
• 6.9.3
• 6.9.4
• 6.9.5
• 6.9.6
• 6.9.7
• 6.9.8
• 6.9.9

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion