CVE-2024-53059·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: Fix response handling in iwl_mvm_send_recovery_cmd() 1. The size of the response packet is not validated. 2. The response buffer is not freed. Resolve these issues by switching to iwl_mvm_send_cmd_status(), which handles both size validation and frees the buffer.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.11.7
- 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 2% 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-2024-53059 scores 7.1 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: 6.11.7
Fixed in: 6.11.7
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.11.7 or later to patch a memory handling vulnerability in the iwlwifi driver's recovery command processing. This fix ensures that Wi-Fi device recovery responses are properly validated and freed, preventing potential denial of service or privilege escalation through malformed driver responses. Systems running kernels 6.7 through 6.11.6 should prioritize this update.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Run 'uname -r' to check your current kernel version and verify if it falls within the vulnerable range (6.7 to 6.11.6)
- Confirm iwlwifi driver presence with 'lspci | grep -i wireless' and 'lsmod | grep iwl' to determine if the affected driver is loaded
- Search system logs for recovery command failures: 'grep -i 'iwl_mvm_send_recovery' /var/log/kern.log' or 'journalctl | grep iwlwifi'
- Verify the patch is applied by checking kernel build config: 'grep CONFIG_IWLWIFI /boot/config-$(uname -r)' and confirming kernel version is 6.11.7 or later with 'uname -r'
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-53059?
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's iwlwifi driver where the recovery command handler fails to validate response packet size and improperly manages memory, leaving the response buffer unfreed. This can lead to memory exhaustion or information disclosure when a Wi-Fi device sends a malformed recovery response.
Is CVE-2024-53059 being actively exploited?
No, there is no evidence of active exploitation in the wild or public exploit code available for this vulnerability at this time.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-53059?
Linux kernel versions 6.7 through 6.11.6 are vulnerable. The fix is available in kernel 6.11.7 and later.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-53059?
Run 'uname -r' and compare your kernel version against the range 6.7-6.11.6. If your version falls within this range and 'lsmod | grep iwl' shows the iwlwifi driver is loaded, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-53059?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-53059 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/07a6e3b78a65f4b2796a8d0d4adb1a15a81edead
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3eb986c64c6bfb721950f9666a3b723cf65d043f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f45d590ccbae6dfd6faef54efe74c30bd85d3da
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45a628911d3c68e024eed337054a0452b064f450
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64d63557ded6ff3ce72b18ab87a6c4b1b652161c
Track CVEs across your fleet automatically
Defensia scans your Linux servers and tells you exactly which ones are running vulnerable versions — including CVE-2024-53059. Free for 1 server.
Get started free