CVE-2024-26957·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/zcrypt: fix reference counting on zcrypt card objects Tests with hot-plugging crytpo cards on KVM guests with debug kernel build revealed an use after free for the load field of the struct zcrypt_card. The reason was an incorrect reference handling of the zcrypt card object which could lead to a free of the zcrypt card object while it was still in use. This is an example of the slab message: kernel: 0x00000000885a7512-0x00000000885a7513 @offset=1298. First byte 0x68 instead of 0x6b kernel: Allocated in zcrypt_card_alloc+0x36/0x70 [zcrypt] age=18046 cpu=3 pid=43 kernel: kmalloc_trace+0x3f2/0x470 kernel: zcrypt_card_alloc+0x36/0x70 [zcrypt] kernel: zcrypt_cex4_card_probe+0x26/0x380 [zcrypt_cex4] kernel: ap_device_probe+0x15c/0x290 kernel: really_probe+0xd2/0x468 kernel: driver_probe_device+0x40/0xf0 kernel: __device_attach_driver+0xc0/0x140 kernel: bus_for_each_drv+0x8c/0xd0 kernel: __device_attach+0x114/0x198 kernel: bus_probe_device+0xb4/0xc8 kernel: device_add+0x4d2/0x6e0 kernel: ap_scan_adapter+0x3d0/0x7c0 kernel: ap_scan_bus+0x5a/0x3b0 kernel: ap_scan_bus_wq_callback+0x40/0x60 kernel: process_one_work+0x26e/0x620 kernel: worker_thread+0x21c/0x440 kernel: Freed in zcrypt_card_put+0x54/0x80 [zcrypt] age=9024 cpu=3 pid=43 kernel: kfree+0x37e/0x418 kernel: zcrypt_card_put+0x54/0x80 [zcrypt] kernel: ap_device_remove+0x4c/0xe0 kernel: device_release_driver_internal+0x1c4/0x270 kernel: bus_remove_device+0x100/0x188 kernel: device_del+0x164/0x3c0 kernel: device_unregister+0x30/0x90 kernel: ap_scan_adapter+0xc8/0x7c0 kernel: ap_scan_bus+0x5a/0x3b0 kernel: ap_scan_bus_wq_callback+0x40/0x60 kernel: process_one_work+0x26e/0x620 kernel: worker_thread+0x21c/0x440 kernel: kthread+0x150/0x168 kernel: __ret_from_fork+0x3c/0x58 kernel: ret_from_fork+0xa/0x30 kernel: Slab 0x00000372022169c0 objects=20 used=18 fp=0x00000000885a7c88 flags=0x3ffff00000000a00(workingset|slab|node=0|zone=1|lastcpupid=0x1ffff) kernel: Object 0x00000000885a74b8 @offset=1208 fp=0x00000000885a7c88 kernel: Redzone 00000000885a74b0: bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb ........ kernel: Object 00000000885a74b8: 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kernel: Object 00000000885a74c8: 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kernel: Object 00000000885a74d8: 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kernel: Object 00000000885a74e8: 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kernel: Object 00000000885a74f8: 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kernel: Object 00000000885a7508: 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 6b 68 4b 6b 6b 6b a5 kkkkkkkkkkhKkkk. kernel: Redzone 00000000885a7518: bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb ........ kernel: Padding 00000000885a756c: 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a 5a ZZZZZZZZZZZZ kernel: CPU: 0 PID: 387 Comm: systemd-udevd Not tainted 6.8.0-HF #2 kernel: Hardware name: IBM 3931 A01 704 (KVM/Linux) kernel: Call Trace: kernel: [<00000000ca5ab5b8>] dump_stack_lvl+0x90/0x120 kernel: [<00000000c99d78bc>] check_bytes_and_report+0x114/0x140 kernel: [<00000000c99d53cc>] check_object+0x334/0x3f8 kernel: [<00000000c99d820c>] alloc_debug_processing+0xc4/0x1f8 kernel: [<00000000c99d852e>] get_partial_node.part.0+0x1ee/0x3e0 kernel: [<00000000c99d94ec>] ___slab_alloc+0xaf4/0x13c8 kernel: [<00000000c99d9e38>] __slab_alloc.constprop.0+0x78/0xb8 kernel: [<00000000c99dc8dc>] __kmalloc+0x434/0x590 kernel: [<00000000c9b4c0ce>] ext4_htree_store_dirent+0x4e/0x1c0 kernel: [<00000000c9b908a2>] htree_dirblock_to_tree+0x17a/0x3f0 kernel: ---truncated---
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.8.3
- Published
- 2024-05-01
Affected versions
From: 6.8
Until: 6.8.3
Fixed in: 6.8.3
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.8.3 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the s390 zcrypt cryptographic device driver. This flaw could cause memory corruption when crypto cards are hot-plugged on s390 systems, potentially leading to system instability or privilege escalation. Ensure your system has the latest kernel patches applied and reboot after the update.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Run 'uname -r' to check your current kernel version and compare against 6.8.3
- Check if s390 zcrypt drivers are loaded with 'lsmod | grep zcrypt' on s390 systems
- Review kernel logs for slab corruption messages with 'dmesg | grep -i "use after free\|zcrypt\|slab"'
- Verify the fix by confirming kernel version is 6.8.3 or higher after reboot with 'uname -r'
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-26957?
CVE-2024-26957 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's s390 zcrypt cryptographic card driver where improper reference counting allows the card object to be freed while still in use, causing memory corruption and potential system compromise.
Is CVE-2024-26957 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are currently available, though it poses a significant risk to s390-based systems.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-26957?
Linux kernel versions 6.8.0 through 6.8.2 are vulnerable. Version 6.8.3 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-26957?
Run 'uname -r' and verify the kernel version is 6.8.2 or earlier on an s390 system, then check 'lsmod | grep zcrypt' to see if the vulnerable driver is loaded.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-26957?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-26957 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/394b6d8bbdf9ddee6d5bcf3e1f3e9f23eecd6484
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/50ed48c80fecbe17218afed4f8bed005c802976c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6470078ab3d8f222115e11c4ec67351f3031b3dd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7e500849fa558879a1cde43f80c7c048c2437058
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9daddee03de3f231012014dab8ab2b277a116a55
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