CVE-2024-35981
MediumIn the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio_net: Do not send RSS key if it is not supported There is a bug when setting the RSS options in virtio_net that can break the whole machine, getting the kernel into an infinite loop. Running the following command in any QEMU virtual machine with virtionet will reproduce this problem: # ethtool -X eth0 hfunc toeplitz This is how the problem happens: 1) ethtool_set_rxfh() calls virtnet_set_rxfh() 2) virtnet_set_rxfh() calls virtnet_commit_rss_command() 3) virtnet_commit_rss_command() populates 4 entries for the rss scatter-gather 4) Since the command above does not have a key, then the last scatter-gatter entry will be zeroed, since rss_key_size == 0. sg_buf_size = vi->rss_key_size; 5) This buffer is passed to qemu, but qemu is not happy with a buffer with zero length, and do the following in virtqueue_map_desc() (QEMU function): if (!sz) { virtio_error(vdev, "virtio: zero sized buffers are not allowed"); 6) virtio_error() (also QEMU function) set the device as broken vdev->broken = true; 7) Qemu bails out, and do not repond this crazy kernel. 8) The kernel is waiting for the response to come back (function virtnet_send_command()) 9) The kernel is waiting doing the following : while (!virtqueue_get_buf(vi->cvq, &tmp) && !virtqueue_is_broken(vi->cvq)) cpu_relax(); 10) None of the following functions above is true, thus, the kernel loops here forever. Keeping in mind that virtqueue_is_broken() does not look at the qemu `vdev->broken`, so, it never realizes that the vitio is broken at QEMU side. Fix it by not sending RSS commands if the feature is not available in the device.
CVSS 3.1 score
5.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness type
CWE-835CVE-2024-35981 is a Infinite Loop vulnerability
What is Infinite Loop?
The product contains an iteration that does not exit even when it should. Learn more on MITRE CWE
References
The following references provide additional information about CVE-2024-35981 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/059a49aa2e25c58f90b50151f109dd3c4cdb3a47
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/28e9a64638cd16bc1ecac9ff74ffeacb9fb652de
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/43a71c1b4b3a6d4db857b1435d271540279fc7de
Frequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2024-35981?
CVE-2024-35981 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as an Infinite Loop flaw (CWE-835) . CVE-2024-35981 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-35981?
CVE-2024-35981 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. -
Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-35981?
No patch is currently available for CVE-2024-35981. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
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Is CVE-2024-35981 actively exploited?
No — CVE-2024-35981 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
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What is Infinite Loop (CWE-835)?
The product contains an iteration that does not exit even when it should. View CWE-835 on MITRE CWE →