CVE-2024-49854·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: block, bfq: fix uaf for accessing waker_bfqq after splitting After commit 42c306ed7233 ("block, bfq: don't break merge chain in bfq_split_bfqq()"), if the current procress is the last holder of bfqq, the bfqq can be freed after bfq_split_bfqq(). Hence recored the bfqq and then access bfqq->waker_bfqq may trigger UAF. What's more, the waker_bfqq may in the merge chain of bfqq, hence just recored waker_bfqq is still not safe. Fix the problem by adding a helper bfq_waker_bfqq() to check if bfqq->waker_bfqq is in the merge chain, and current procress is the only holder.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.11.2
- Published
- 2024-10-21
Affected versions
From: 6.11
Until: 6.11.2
Fixed in: 6.11.2
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.11.2 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the BFQ I/O scheduler that could occur during queue splitting operations. This flaw affects kernel versions 6.11 through 6.11.1 and requires a kernel upgrade followed by a system reboot to take effect.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check kernel version: uname -r — vulnerable if output is 6.11.0 or 6.11.1
- Verify BFQ scheduler is active: cat /sys/block/sda/queue/scheduler — check if '[bfq]' is listed and enabled
- Search kernel logs for UAF indicators: sudo dmesg | grep -i 'use-after-free\|uaf\|bfqq' — look for memory safety violations
- Confirm patch applied: grep -i 'bfq_waker_bfqq' /boot/config-$(uname -r) — verify helper function is present in compiled kernel
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-49854?
CVE-2024-49854 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BFQ (Budget Fair Queuing) I/O scheduler that occurs when a process is the last holder of a queue during a split operation, potentially allowing memory corruption or kernel panic.
Is CVE-2024-49854 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are available. However, it should still be patched promptly due to its high severity rating.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-49854?
Linux kernel versions 6.11.0 and 6.11.1 are affected. The vulnerability has been fixed in version 6.11.2 and later.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-49854?
Run 'uname -r' and check if the output is 6.11.0 or 6.11.1. Additionally, verify BFQ is enabled with 'cat /sys/block/*/queue/scheduler' — if 6.11.x with BFQ active, the system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-49854?
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 6.11.0 or 6.11.1, CVE-2024-49854 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0780451f03bf518bc032a7c584de8f92e2d39d7f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b8bda0ff17156cd3f60944527c9d8c9f99f1583
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ba0403ac6447f2d63914fb760c44a3b19c44eaf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/63a07379fdb6c72450cb05294461c6016b8b7726
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cae58d19121a70329cf971359e2518c93fec04fe
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