CVE-2024-38567·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: carl9170: add a proper sanity check for endpoints Syzkaller reports [1] hitting a warning which is caused by presence of a wrong endpoint type at the URB sumbitting stage. While there was a check for a specific 4th endpoint, since it can switch types between bulk and interrupt, other endpoints are trusted implicitly. Similar warning is triggered in a couple of other syzbot issues [2]. Fix the issue by doing a comprehensive check of all endpoints taking into account difference between high- and full-speed configuration. [1] Syzkaller report: ... WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 4721 at drivers/usb/core/urb.c:504 usb_submit_urb+0xed6/0x1880 drivers/usb/core/urb.c:504 ... Call Trace: <TASK> carl9170_usb_send_rx_irq_urb+0x273/0x340 drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/usb.c:504 carl9170_usb_init_device drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/usb.c:939 [inline] carl9170_usb_firmware_finish drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/usb.c:999 [inline] carl9170_usb_firmware_step2+0x175/0x240 drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/usb.c:1028 request_firmware_work_func+0x130/0x240 drivers/base/firmware_loader/main.c:1107 process_one_work+0x9bf/0x1710 kernel/workqueue.c:2289 worker_thread+0x669/0x1090 kernel/workqueue.c:2436 kthread+0x2e8/0x3a0 kernel/kthread.c:376 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:308 </TASK> [2] Related syzkaller crashes:
- Severity
- medium
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.9.3
- 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 1% 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.
Affected versions
From: 6.9
Until: 6.9.3
Fixed in: 6.9.3
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.9.3 or later to patch endpoint validation vulnerabilities in the carl9170 USB WiFi driver. This fix implements comprehensive sanity checks for all USB endpoints, preventing incorrect endpoint type configurations that could trigger kernel warnings and system instability. Apply the update through your distribution's package manager immediately.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your current kernel version with `uname -r` and compare against the vulnerable range (6.9 through 6.9.2)
- Step 2: Verify if carl9170 WiFi driver is loaded with `lsmod | grep carl9170` - if output is empty, this device is not present
- Step 3: Search kernel logs for USB submission warnings related to carl9170 with `sudo dmesg | grep -i 'carl9170\|usb_submit_urb.*504'`
- Step 4: After patching, verify the new kernel version with `uname -r` and confirm it shows 6.9.3 or higher
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-38567?
This vulnerability affects the carl9170 USB WiFi driver in the Linux kernel, where inadequate endpoint type validation allows mismatched endpoint configurations to be submitted to the USB subsystem, triggering kernel warnings and potential denial of service.
Is CVE-2024-38567 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has no public exploits available. It was discovered through fuzzing by Syzkaller.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-38567?
Linux kernel versions 6.9 through 6.9.2 are vulnerable. Version 6.9.3 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-38567?
Run `uname -r` to check your kernel version - if it shows 6.9.0 through 6.9.2, you are vulnerable. Then run `lsmod | grep carl9170` to determine if the affected driver is loaded on your system.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-38567?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-38567 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03ddc74bdfd71b84a55c9f2185d8787f258422cd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fa08a55201ab9be72bacb8ea93cf752d338184f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/265c3cda471c26e0f25d0c755da94e1eb15d7a0c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/62eb07923f3693d55b0c2d9a5a4f1ad72cb6b8fd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a9892bf24c906b4d6b587f8759ca38bff672582
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