Linux Kernel up to 6.9.8 virtio_pci_common.c is_avq null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.9.8. This issue affects the function is_avq of the file virtio_pci_common.c. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2024-42134. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.9.8. Affected by this vulnerability is the function is_avq of the file virtio_pci_common.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio-pci: Check if is_avq is NULL [bug] In the virtio_pci_common.c function vp_del_vqs, vp_dev->is_avq is involved to determine whether it is admin virtqueue, but this function vp_dev->is_avq may be empty. For installations, virtio_pci_legacy does not assign a value to vp_dev->is_avq. [fix] Check whether it is vp_dev->is_avq before use. [test] Test with virsh Attach device Before this patch, the following command would crash the guest system After applying the patch, everything seems to be working fine.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2024-42134 since 07/29/2024. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 258053 (SUSE SLED15 / SLES15 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2025:02997-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.9.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 5e2024b0b9b3/c8fae27d141a 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 (258053) 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
• IBM Storage Scale
• IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
• Juniper Junos Space
• IBM Storage Scale System
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager

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

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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

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