CVE-2024-44932·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: idpf: fix UAFs when destroying the queues The second tagged commit started sometimes (very rarely, but possible) throwing WARNs from net/core/page_pool.c:page_pool_disable_direct_recycling(). Turned out idpf frees interrupt vectors with embedded NAPIs *before* freeing the queues making page_pools' NAPI pointers lead to freed memory before these pools are destroyed by libeth. It's not clear whether there are other accesses to the freed vectors when destroying the queues, but anyway, we usually free queue/interrupt vectors only when the queues are destroyed and the NAPIs are guaranteed to not be referenced anywhere. Invert the allocation and freeing logic making queue/interrupt vectors be allocated first and freed last. Vectors don't require queues to be present, so this is safe. Additionally, this change allows to remove that useless queue->q_vector pointer cleanup, as vectors are still valid when freeing the queues (+ both are freed within one function, so it's not clear why nullify the pointers at all).
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.10.5
- 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 6% 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-2024-44932 scores 7.8 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: 6.10.5
Fixed in: 6.10.5
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.10.5 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the idpf driver that causes memory safety violations during queue destruction. Systems running kernel versions 6.7 through 6.10.4 should prioritize this update to eliminate the risk of kernel warnings and potential system instability related to page pool NAPI pointer management.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r — if output shows 6.7.x through 6.10.4, your system is vulnerable
- Verify idpf driver is loaded: lsmod | grep idpf — if the module appears, the affected code path is present
- Search kernel logs for page_pool warnings: dmesg | grep -i 'page_pool_disable_direct_recycling' or journalctl -b | grep -i 'page_pool' — exploitation would trigger these warnings
- Confirm patch applied: grep 'CONFIG_NET_VENDOR_INTEL=y' /boot/config-$(uname -r) — if idpf is compiled in, verify kernel version is 6.10.5+ via uname -r
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-44932?
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's idpf (Intel Data Plane Development Kit Flow) driver where interrupt vectors are freed before queues are destroyed, leaving page pool NAPI pointers referencing freed memory and causing kernel warnings during cleanup.
Is CVE-2024-44932 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are available. However, it represents a memory safety flaw that should still be remediated promptly.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-44932?
Linux kernel versions 6.7.0 through 6.10.4 are vulnerable. The fix is included in kernel 6.10.5 and later stable releases.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-44932?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version — if it shows 6.7.x, 6.8.x, 6.9.x, or 6.10.0-6.10.4, and 'lsmod | grep idpf' shows the driver loaded, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-44932?
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-2024-44932 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
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