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

9 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel>=5.7<6.1.95
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.35
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.9.6
All of the following
azurelinux/kernel=5.15.186.1-1
Microsoft CBL-Mariner=2.0
debian/linux<6.1.99-1
6.1.99-1
debian/linux<6.9.7-1
6.9.7-1
debian/linux<6.9.7-1
6.9.7-1
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.99-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.9.7-1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1
  4. Compensating control

    Rewrite the RISC-V __kernel_map_pages() function to use apply_to_existing_page_range() instead of __set_memory(), preventing it from sleeping when called in atomic context.

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
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·01:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 20, 2025
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·01:02 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

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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