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CVE-2024-56761

5.5 · MEDIUM

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/fred: Clear WFE in missing-ENDBRANCH #CPs An indirect branch instruction sets the CPU indirect branch tracker (IBT) into WA…

Published Jan 6, 2025EPSS 0.22%

Overview

CVE-2024-56761 is a medium-severity vulnerability. It was published on January 6, 2025 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:

x86/fred: Clear WFE in missing-ENDBRANCH #CPs

An indirect branch instruction sets the CPU indirect branch tracker

(IBT) into WAIT_FOR_ENDBRANCH (WFE) state and WFE stays asserted

across the instruction boundary. When the decoder finds an

inappropriate instruction while WFE is set ENDBR, the CPU raises a #CP

fault.

For the "kernel IBT no ENDBR" selftest where #CPs are deliberately

triggered, the WFE state of the interrupted context needs to be

cleared to let execution continue. Otherwise when the CPU resumes

from the instruction that just caused the previous #CP, another

missing-ENDBRANCH #CP is raised and the CPU enters a dead loop.

This is not a problem with IDT because it doesn't preserve WFE and

IRET doesn't set WFE. But FRED provides space on the entry stack

(in an expanded CS area) to save and restore the WFE state, thus the

WFE state is no longer clobbered, so software must clear it.

Clear WFE to avoid de

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-56761?

CVE-2024-56761 is a medium-severity vulnerability. It was published on January 6, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2024-56761?

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-2024-56761?

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. 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.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2024-56761?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2024-56761 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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