CVE-2024-40915: riscv: rewrite __kernel_map_pages() to fix sleeping in invalid context

Published Jul 12, 2024
·
Updated

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

riscv: rewrite kernelmappages() to fix sleeping in invalid context

kernelmappages() 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 setmemory(). setmemory() acquires initmm's semaphore, and this operation may sleep. This is problematic, because kernelmappages() 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 inatomic(): 1, irqsdisabled(): 0, nonblock: 0, pid: 2, name: kthreadd preemptcount: 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>] dumpbacktrace+0x1c/0x24 [<ffffffff8091ef6e>] showstack+0x2c/0x38 [<ffffffff8092baf8>] dumpstacklvl+0x5a/0x72 [<ffffffff8092bb24>] dumpstack+0x14/0x1c [<ffffffff8003b7ac>] mightresched+0x104/0x10e [<ffffffff8003b7f4>] mightsleep+0x3e/0x62 [<ffffffff8093276a>] downwrite+0x20/0x72 [<ffffffff8000cf00>] setmemory+0x82/0x2fa [<ffffffff8000d324>] kernelmappages+0x5a/0xd4 [<ffffffff80196cca>] allocpagesbulk+0x3b2/0x43a [<ffffffff8018ee82>] vmallocnoderange+0x196/0x6ba [<ffffffff80011904>] copyprocess+0x72c/0x17ec [<ffffffff80012ab4>] kernelclone+0x60/0x2fe [<ffffffff80012f62>] kernelthread+0x82/0xa0 [<ffffffff8003552c>] kthreadd+0x14a/0x1be [<ffffffff809357de>] retfromfork+0xe/0x1c

Rewrite this function with applytoexistingpagerange(). It is fine to not have any locking, because kernelmappages() works with pages being allocated/deallocated and those pages are not changed by anyone else in the meantime.

Other sources

This CVE was automatically created from a reference found in an email or other text. If you are reading this, then this CVE entry is probably erroneous, since this text should be replaced by the official CVE description automatically.

Launchpad

Affected Software

6 affected componentsFixes available
debian/linux<=5.10.223-1, <=5.10.234-1
6.1.129-16.1.135-16.12.25-16.12.27-1
debian/linux-6.1
6.1.129-1~deb11u1
Linux Linux kernel>=5.7<6.1.95
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.35
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.9.6
Microsoft cbl2 kernel 5.15.186.1-1

Event History

Jul 12, 2024
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:24 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:24 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:15 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:15 PM
RemedySeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Nov 10, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·04:40 PM
Description
Apr 27, 2025
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·05:24 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 20, 2025
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·01:02 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·01:02 AM
Affected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·01:02 AM
DescriptionSeverity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2024-40915?

CVE-2024-40915 has a high severity due to its potential impact on system stability and security.

2

How do I fix CVE-2024-40915?

To fix CVE-2024-40915, update to the specified remedied versions of the Linux kernel, such as 6.1.123-1 or 6.12.10-1.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2024-40915?

CVE-2024-40915 affects multiple versions of the Linux kernel, specifically those up to 5.10.226-1.

4

Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-40915?

Yes, patches for CVE-2024-40915 are available in the latest versions of the Linux packages from Debian.

5

What is the main issue addressed by CVE-2024-40915?

CVE-2024-40915 addresses a flaw in the __kernel_map_pages() function that could lead to sleeping in an invalid context.

Contact

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