CVE-2024-56616·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/dp_mst: Fix MST sideband message body length check Fix the MST sideband message body length check, which must be at least 1 byte accounting for the message body CRC (aka message data CRC) at the end of the message. This fixes a case where an MST branch device returns a header with a correct header CRC (indicating a correctly received body length), with the body length being incorrectly set to 0. This will later lead to a memory corruption in drm_dp_sideband_append_payload() and the following errors in dmesg: UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_dp_mst_topology.c:786:25 index -1 is out of range for type 'u8 [48]' Call Trace: drm_dp_sideband_append_payload+0x33d/0x350 [drm_display_helper] drm_dp_get_one_sb_msg+0x3ce/0x5f0 [drm_display_helper] drm_dp_mst_hpd_irq_handle_event+0xc8/0x1580 [drm_display_helper] memcpy: detected field-spanning write (size 18446744073709551615) of single field "&msg->msg[msg->curlen]" at drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_dp_mst_topology.c:791 (size 256) Call Trace: drm_dp_sideband_append_payload+0x324/0x350 [drm_display_helper] drm_dp_get_one_sb_msg+0x3ce/0x5f0 [drm_display_helper] drm_dp_mst_hpd_irq_handle_event+0xc8/0x1580 [drm_display_helper]
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.12.5
- Published
- 2024-12-27
Affected versions
From: 6.7
Until: 6.12.5
Fixed in: 6.12.5
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.12.5 or later to patch a critical MST sideband message validation flaw. This vulnerability allows malicious or faulty DisplayPort MST branch devices to trigger memory corruption through improper body length validation. Systems with external DisplayPort devices or multi-stream displays should prioritize this update immediately.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check your kernel version: uname -r — verify it is NOT in the range 6.7.x to 6.12.4
- Identify if MST/DisplayPort devices are active: grep -i 'dp_mst\|displayport' /var/log/dmesg or dmesg | grep -i 'mst'
- Search for exploitation indicators in kernel logs: dmesg | grep -E 'UBSAN|array-index-out-of-bounds|drm_dp_sideband|memcpy: detected field-spanning'
- Verify patch application after update by running uname -r and confirming the version is 6.12.5 or higher
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-56616?
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's DisplayPort MST (Multi-Stream Transport) sideband message handler. A faulty or malicious MST branch device can send a message with an incorrect body length of 0, bypassing validation checks and causing out-of-bounds memory access when the kernel attempts to process the message payload.
Is CVE-2024-56616 being actively exploited?
No — this vulnerability is not currently listed on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and no public exploits are documented. However, the attack vector requires physical access or control over a connected DisplayPort MST device.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-56616?
Linux kernel versions 6.7.0 through 6.12.4 are vulnerable. Version 6.12.5 and later include the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-56616?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version. If the output shows a version between 6.7 and 6.12.4, your system is vulnerable. Additionally, verify MST support is enabled: grep -i CONFIG_DRM_DP_MST /boot/config-$(uname -r)
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-56616?
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-2024-56616 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/109f91d8b9335b0f3714ef9920eae5a8b21d56af
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fc1f32c4a3421b9d803f18ec3ef49db2fb5d5ef
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/70e7166612f4e6da8d7d0305c47c465d88d037e5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/780fa184d4dc38ad6c4fded345ab8f9be7a63e96
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd2fccac61b40eaf08d9546acc9fef958bfe4763
Track CVEs across your fleet automatically
Defensia scans your Linux servers and tells you exactly which ones are running vulnerable versions — including CVE-2024-56616. Free for 1 server.
Get started free