CVE-2024-38604·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: block: refine the EOF check in blkdev_iomap_begin blkdev_iomap_begin rounds down the offset to the logical block size before stashing it in iomap->offset and checking that it still is inside the inode size. Check the i_size check to the raw pos value so that we don't try a zero size write if iter->pos is unaligned.
- Severity
- medium
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.9.3
- Published
- 2024-06-19
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 resolve this block device I/O mapping vulnerability. The fix refines the end-of-file (EOF) check in the blkdev_iomap_begin function to prevent unaligned write operations from causing denial of service conditions. Users running kernel versions 6.9 through 6.9.2 should prioritize this update to restore stability in block device operations.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check installed kernel version with `uname -r` and compare against 6.9.3 or later
- Step 2: Verify block device I/O operations are functioning by running `sudo blockdev --getsz /dev/sda` without errors
- Step 3: Search kernel logs for I/O mapping errors with `sudo journalctl -u kernel | grep -i 'iomap\|blkdev' | tail -50`
- Step 4: After patching, confirm the new kernel version loads with `uname -r` and verify block device operations resume normal behavior
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-38604?
CVE-2024-38604 is a Linux kernel vulnerability in the block device I/O mapping function that incorrectly handles unaligned file position values during write operations. This can lead to denial of service by allowing zero-sized writes or I/O failures when block offsets are not properly validated against file size boundaries.
Is CVE-2024-38604 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and there are no public exploits available. However, it remains a medium-severity issue that should be patched to prevent potential availability disruptions.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-38604?
Linux kernel versions 6.9 through 6.9.2 are vulnerable. Kernel 6.9.3 and later versions contain the fix and are safe to use.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-38604?
Run `uname -r` and check the kernel version. If it shows 6.9.0, 6.9.1, or 6.9.2, your system is vulnerable. Versions 6.9.3+ and all other stable branches (6.8, 6.10+) are not affected.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-38604?
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-2024-38604 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c12028aec837f5a002009bbf68d179d506510e8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10b723bcba8986537a484aa94dbfc9093fd776a1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/72c54e063c32aeb38d43a2bd897821e6e5a1757d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/910717920c8c3f9386277a44c44d448058a18084
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c12028aec837f5a002009bbf68d179d506510e8
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