CVE-2024-40972

5.5 · MEDIUM

Published Jul 12, 2024 linux CWE-667 EPSS 0.22% (12th pctl) CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Overview

CVE-2024-40972 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on July 12, 2024 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

Technical Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ext4: do not create EA inode under buffer lock

ext4_xattr_set_entry() creates new EA inodes while holding buffer lock

on the external xattr block. This is problematic as it nests all the

allocation locking (which acquires locks on other buffers) under the

buffer lock. This can even deadlock when the filesystem is corrupted and

e.g. quota file is setup to contain xattr block as data block. Move the

allocation of EA inode out of ext4_xattr_set_entry() into the callers.

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions	Status
linux	linux_kernel	>= 0, < 6.1.107	Affected

References

Ref git.kernel.org/stable/c/0752e7fb549d90c33b4d4186f11cfd25a556d1dd Ref git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a46ef234756dca04623b7591e8ebb3440622f0b Ref git.kernel.org/stable/c/111103907234bffd0a34fba070ad9367de058752 Ref git.kernel.org/stable/c/737fb7853acd5bc8984f6f42e4bfba3334be8ae1 Ref git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a46ef234756dca04623b7591e8ebb3440622f0b Ref git.kernel.org/stable/c/111103907234bffd0a34fba070ad9367de058752 Ref lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-40972?

CVE-2024-40972 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on July 12, 2024 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2024-40972?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2024-40972?

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2024-40972?

CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2024-40972 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.

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HackBrowser

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