CVE-2024-40915

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: riscv: rewrite __kernel_map_pages() to fix sleeping in invalid context __kernel_map_pages() is a debug function which clears the valid bit in page table entry for deallocated pages to detect illegal memory accesses to freed pages. This function set/clear the valid bit using __set_memory(). __set_memory() acquires init_mm's semaphore, and this operation may sleep. This is problematic, because __kernel_map_pages() can be called in atomic context, and thus is illegal to sleep. An example warning that this causes: BUG: sleeping function called from invalid context at kernel/locking/rwsem.c:1578 in_atomic(): 1, irqs_disabled(): 0, non_block: 0, pid: 2, name: kthreadd preempt_count: 2, expected: 0 CPU: 0 PID: 2 Comm: kthreadd Not tainted 6.9.0-g1d4c6d784ef6 #37 Hardware name: riscv-virtio,qemu (DT) Call Trace: [<ffffffff800060dc>] dump_backtrace+0x1c/0x24 [<ffffffff8091ef6e>] show_stack+0x2c/0x38 [<ffffffff8092baf8>] dump_stack_lvl+0x5a/0x72 [<ffffffff8092bb24>] dump_stack+0x14/0x1c [<ffffffff8003b7ac>] __might_resched+0x104/0x10e [<ffffffff8003b7f4>] __might_sleep+0x3e/0x62 [<ffffffff8093276a>] down_write+0x20/0x72 [<ffffffff8000cf00>] __set_memory+0x82/0x2fa [<ffffffff8000d324>] __kernel_map_pages+0x5a/0xd4 [<ffffffff80196cca>] __alloc_pages_bulk+0x3b2/0x43a [<ffffffff8018ee82>] __vmalloc_node_range+0x196/0x6ba [<ffffffff80011904>] copy_process+0x72c/0x17ec [<ffffffff80012ab4>] kernel_clone+0x60/0x2fe [<ffffffff80012f62>] kernel_thread+0x82/0xa0 [<ffffffff8003552c>] kthreadd+0x14a/0x1be [<ffffffff809357de>] ret_from_fork+0xe/0x1c Rewrite this function with apply_to_existing_page_range(). It is fine to not have any locking, because __kernel_map_pages() works with pages being allocated/deallocated and those pages are not changed by anyone else in the meantime.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2024-07-12
Last modified 2025-11-03
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-667

CVE-2024-40915 is a Improper Locking vulnerability

What is Improper Locking?

The product does not properly acquire or release a lock, which can lead to unexpected behaviour. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2024-40915 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2024-40915?

    CVE-2024-40915 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as an Improper Locking flaw (CWE-667) . CVE-2024-40915 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-40915?

    CVE-2024-40915 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-2024-40915?

    No patch is currently available for CVE-2024-40915. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

  • Is CVE-2024-40915 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2024-40915 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is Improper Locking (CWE-667)?

    The product does not properly acquire or release a lock, which can lead to unexpected behaviour. View CWE-667 on MITRE CWE →