CVE-2024-46755: wifi: mwifiex: Do not return unused priv in mwifiex_get_priv_by_id()

Published Sep 18, 2024
·
Updated

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

wifi: mwifiex: Do not return unused priv in mwifiexgetprivbyid()

mwifiexgetprivbyid() returns the priv pointer corresponding to the bssnum and bsstype, but without checking if the priv is actually currently in use. Unused priv pointers do not have a wiphy attached to them which can lead to NULL pointer dereferences further down the callstack. Fix this by returning only used priv pointers which have priv->bssmode set to something else than NL80211IFTYPEUNSPECIFIED.

Said NULL pointer dereference happened when an Accesspoint was started with wpasupplicant -i mlan0 with this config:

network={ ssid="somessid" mode=2 frequency=2412 keymgmt=WPA-PSK WPA-PSK-SHA256 proto=RSN group=CCMP pairwise=CCMP psk="12345678" }

When waiting for the AP to be established, interrupting wpasupplicant with <ctrl-c> and starting it again this happens:

| Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000140 | Mem abort info: | ESR = 0x0000000096000004 | EC = 0x25: DABT (current EL), IL = 32 bits | SET = 0, FnV = 0 | EA = 0, S1PTW = 0 | FSC = 0x04: level 0 translation fault | Data abort info: | ISV = 0, ISS = 0x00000004, ISS2 = 0x00000000 | CM = 0, WnR = 0, TnD = 0, TagAccess = 0 | GCS = 0, Overlay = 0, DirtyBit = 0, Xs = 0 | user pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp=0000000046d96000 | [0000000000000140] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000 | Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000004 [#1] PREEMPT SMP | Modules linked in: caamjr caamhashdesc spidev caamalgdesc cryptoengine authenc libdes mwifiexsdio +mwifiex crct10difce cdcacm onboardusbhub fslimx8ddrperf imx8mddrc rtcds1307 lm75 rtcsnvs +imxsdma caam imx8mmthermal spiimx error imxcpufreqdt fuse iptables xtables ipv6 | CPU: 0 PID: 8 Comm: kworker/0:1 Not tainted 6.9.0-00007-g937242013fce-dirty #18 | Hardware name: somemachine (DT) | Workqueue: events sdioirqwork | pstate: 00000005 (nzcv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) | pc : mwifiexgetcfp+0xd8/0x15c [mwifiex] | lr : mwifiexgetcfp+0x34/0x15c [mwifiex] | sp : ffff8000818b3a70 | x29: ffff8000818b3a70 x28: ffff000006bfd8a5 x27: 0000000000000004 | x26: 000000000000002c x25: 0000000000001511 x24: 0000000002e86bc9 | x23: ffff000006bfd996 x22: 0000000000000004 x21: ffff000007bec000 | x20: 000000000000002c x19: 0000000000000000 x18: 0000000000000000 | x17: 000000040044ffff x16: 00500072b5503510 x15: ccc283740681e517 | x14: 0201000101006d15 x13: 0000000002e8ff43 x12: 002c01000000ffb1 | x11: 0100000000000000 x10: 02e8ff43002c0100 x9 : 0000ffb100100157 | x8 : ffff000003d20000 x7 : 00000000000002f1 x6 : 00000000ffffe124 | x5 : 0000000000000001 x4 : 0000000000000003 x3 : 0000000000000000 | x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : 0001000000011001 x0 : 0000000000000000 | Call trace: | mwifiexgetcfp+0xd8/0x15c [mwifiex] | mwifiexparsesingleresponsebuf+0x1d0/0x504 [mwifiex] | mwifiexhandleeventextscanreport+0x19c/0x2f8 [mwifiex] | mwifiexprocessstaevent+0x298/0xf0c [mwifiex] | mwifiexprocessevent+0x110/0x238 [mwifiex] | mwifiexmainprocess+0x428/0xa44 [mwifiex] | mwifiexsdiointerrupt+0x64/0x12c [mwifiexsdio] | processsdiopendingirqs+0x64/0x1b8 | sdioirqwork+0x4c/0x7c | processonework+0x148/0x2a0 | workerthread+0x2fc/0x40c | kthread+0x110/0x114 | retfromfork+0x10/0x20 | Code: a94153f3 a8c37bfd d50323bf d65f03c0 (f940a000) | ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---

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

14 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel<4.19.322
Linux Linux kernel>=4.20<5.4.284
Linux Linux kernel>=5.5<5.10.226
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.167
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.1.110
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.51
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.10.10
debian/linux<=5.10.223-1
5.10.234-16.1.129-16.1.135-16.12.22-16.12.25-1
debian/linux-6.1
6.1.129-1~deb11u1
Microsoft cbl2 kernel 5.15.164.1-1
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.51.1-5
Microsoft cbl2 kernel 5.15.167.1-1
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.47.1-1
Microsoft cbl2 kernel 5.15.164.1-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.10.234-1Fixed in 6.1.129-1Fixed in 6.1.135-1Fixed in 6.12.22-1Fixed in 6.12.25-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux-6.1 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.129-1~deb11u1
  3. Configuration

    In mwifiex_get_priv_by_id(), change logic to return only priv pointers that are actually in use by checking priv->bss_mode and returning privs only when priv->bss_mode is something other than NL80211_IFTYPE_UNSPECIFIED (do not return unused priv pointers without checking).

    mwifiex_get_priv_by_id() (Linux kernel wifi: mwifiex) Return only used priv pointers = priv->bss_mode != NL80211_IFTYPE_UNSPECIFIED
  4. Compensating control

    To avoid triggering the NULL pointer dereference during access point establishment, do not interrupt wpa_supplicant with <ctrl-c> and restart it immediately while bringing up the AP (example reproduction: wpa_supplicant -i mlan0 in mode=2 with the provided network={} config).

Event History

Sep 18, 2024
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:12 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:12 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·08:15 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Oct 12, 2024
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
Affected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Dec 10, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·04:32 PM
Description
Apr 27, 2025
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·12:37 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2024-46755?

CVE-2024-46755 has a moderate severity level as it pertains to a potential information leak in certain kernel versions.

2

How do I fix CVE-2024-46755?

To remediate CVE-2024-46755, update the Linux kernel to a version that includes the patch, such as 5.10.226-1 or newer versions.

3

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2024-46755?

CVE-2024-46755 affects Linux kernel versions from 4.19.322 up to but not including versions that have been patched beyond the specified thresholds.

4

What is the impact of not addressing CVE-2024-46755?

Failure to address CVE-2024-46755 could lead to potential information disclosure through the mwifiex_get_priv_by_id function.

5

Are there any specific distributions that are vulnerable to CVE-2024-46755?

Yes, distributions using affected versions of the Linux kernel, such as Debian, may be vulnerable to CVE-2024-46755.

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