CVE-2024-26897: wifi: ath9k: delay all of ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet() until init is complete
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: ath9k: delay all of ath9kwmieventtasklet() until init is complete
The ath9kwmieventtasklet() used in ath9khtc assumes that all the data structures have been fully initialised by the time it runs. However, because of the order in which things are initialised, this is not guaranteed to be the case, because the device is exposed to the USB subsystem before the ath9k driver initialisation is completed.
We already committed a partial fix for this in commit: 8b3046abc99e ("ath9khtc: fix NULL pointer dereference at ath9khtctxgetpacket()")
However, that commit only aborted the WMITXSTATUSEVENTID command in the event tasklet, pairing it with an "initialisation complete" bit in the TX struct. It seems syzbot managed to trigger the race for one of the other commands as well, so let's just move the existing synchronisation bit to cover the whole tasklet (setting it at the end of ath9khtcprobedevice() instead of inside ath9ktxinit()).
Other sources
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: ath9k: delay all of ath9kwmieventtasklet() until init is complete
The Linux kernel CVE team has assigned CVE-2024-26897 to this issue.
Upstream advisory: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-announce/2024041744-CVE-2024-26897-5382@gregkh/T
— Red Hat
Linux Kernel is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the failure to delay all of ath9kwmieventtasklet() until init is complete. By sending a specially crafted request, a local authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial of service.
— IBM
Affected Software
Remediation
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2024-26897?
CVE-2024-26897 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2024-26897?
To fix CVE-2024-26897, update your Linux kernel to version 5.10.214, 5.15.153, 6.1.83, 6.6.23, 6.7.11, 6.8.2, 6.9, or any patched version provided by your distribution.
What systems are affected by CVE-2024-26897?
CVE-2024-26897 affects various versions of the Linux kernel, particularly those from Red Hat and Debian distributions.
Is CVE-2024-26897 exploited in the wild?
As of now, there is no public indication that CVE-2024-26897 is actively exploited in the wild.
What components of the Linux kernel does CVE-2024-26897 affect?
CVE-2024-26897 affects the ath9k driver in the Linux kernel, specifically related to the initialization of data structures.