CVE-2024-35919·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: mediatek: vcodec: adding lock to protect encoder context list Add a lock for the ctx_list, to avoid accessing a NULL pointer within the 'vpu_enc_ipi_handler' function when the ctx_list has been deleted due to an unexpected behavior on the SCP IP block.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.8.6
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at <0.1% — higher than 3% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Read the two together. CVE-2024-35919 scores 7 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at <0.1%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
Affected versions
From: 6.7
Until: 6.8.6
Fixed in: 6.8.6
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.8.6 or later to address a race condition in the MediaTek video codec encoder that could cause a NULL pointer dereference. The vulnerability occurs when the SCP IP block behaves unexpectedly and deletes the encoder context list while the VPU interrupt handler is still accessing it. Apply the kernel update through your distribution's package manager and reboot to activate the patched kernel.
sudo dnf upgrade kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Run 'uname -r' to check your current kernel version; if it is between 6.7 and 6.8.5, your system is vulnerable
- Check if MediaTek video codec hardware is present by running 'lspci | grep -i mediatek' or reviewing device tree on ARM systems
- Search kernel logs for NULL pointer dereference errors related to vpu_enc_ipi_handler using 'dmesg | grep -i "vpu_enc\|NULL pointer\|mediatek.*vcodec"'
- Verify the fix by upgrading to kernel 6.8.6 and confirming 'uname -r' returns 6.8.6 or newer, then reboot and confirm stable operation without codec-related crashes
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-35919?
CVE-2024-35919 is a kernel race condition in MediaTek's video codec encoder where missing synchronization allows the VPU interrupt handler to access a freed encoder context list, triggering a NULL pointer dereference and potential system crash or privilege escalation.
Is CVE-2024-35919 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2024-35919 is not listed as actively exploited by CISA and no public exploits are available, though the vulnerability is high-severity and should still be patched promptly.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-35919?
Linux kernel versions 6.7 through 6.8.5 are vulnerable; version 6.8.6 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-35919?
Run 'uname -r' and compare the output to the affected range (6.7–6.8.5); if your kernel falls within this range and has MediaTek video codec support enabled, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-35919?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-35919 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41671f0c0182b2bae74ca7e3b0f155559e3e2fc5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/51c84a8aac6e3b59af2b0e92ba63cabe2e641a2d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/afaaf3a0f647a24a7bf6a2145d8ade37baaf75ad
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41671f0c0182b2bae74ca7e3b0f155559e3e2fc5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/51c84a8aac6e3b59af2b0e92ba63cabe2e641a2d
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