CVE-2024-39499·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vmci: prevent speculation leaks by sanitizing event in event_deliver() Coverity spotted that event_msg is controlled by user-space, event_msg->event_data.event is passed to event_deliver() and used as an index without sanitization. This change ensures that the event index is sanitized to mitigate any possibility of speculative information leaks. This bug was discovered and resolved using Coverity Static Analysis Security Testing (SAST) by Synopsys, Inc. Only compile tested, no access to HW.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.9.6
- Published
- 2024-07-12
Affected versions
From: 6.7
Until: 6.9.6
Fixed in: 6.9.6
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.9.6 or later to patch the VMCI event sanitization vulnerability. This fix prevents speculative execution side-channel attacks that could leak sensitive information from kernel memory. Systems running kernel versions 6.7 through 6.9.5 should prioritize this update, particularly in multi-tenant or guest VM environments.
sudo dnf check-update kernel && sudo dnf update kernelDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r — confirm if version is between 6.7 and 6.9.5 (inclusive)
- Verify VMCI module is loaded: lsmod | grep vmci — if output is empty, this CVE has no local impact
- Review kernel compile options: grep CONFIG_VMCI /boot/config-$(uname -r) — should return 'y' or 'm' for vulnerability to apply
- After patching, reboot the system and run uname -r again to confirm kernel version is 6.9.6 or later
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-39499?
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's VMCI (Virtual Machine Communication Interface) subsystem where unsanitized user-controlled event indices could be used in memory access operations, potentially allowing speculative execution side-channel attacks to leak kernel memory contents.
Is CVE-2024-39499 being actively exploited?
No, according to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, CVE-2024-39499 is not currently being actively exploited in the wild, and no public exploits are available.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-39499?
Linux kernel versions 6.7 through 6.9.5 are vulnerable; version 6.9.6 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-39499?
Run 'uname -r' to display your kernel version, then compare against the affected range 6.7–6.9.5; additionally verify VMCI is enabled with 'lsmod | grep vmci'.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-39499?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server running versions 6.7 through 6.9.5, CVE-2024-39499 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58730dfbd4ae01c1b022b0d234a8bf8c02cdfb81
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/681967c4ff210e06380acf9b9a1b33ae06e77cbd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/757804e1c599af5d2a7f864c8e8b2842406ff4bb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8003f00d895310d409b2bf9ef907c56b42a4e0f4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/95ac3e773a1f8da83c4710a720fbfe80055aafae
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