CVE-2024-26863: hsr: Fix uninit-value access in hsr_get_node()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
hsr: Fix uninit-value access in hsr_get_node()
KMSAN reported the following uninit-value access issue [1]:
=====================================================
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in hsr_get_node+0xa2e/0xa40 net/hsr/hsr_framereg.c:246
hsr_get_node+0xa2e/0xa40 net/hsr/hsr_framereg.c:246
fill_frame_info net/hsr/hsr_forward.c:577 [inline]
hsr_forward_skb+0xe12/0x30e0 net/hsr/hsr_forward.c:615
hsr_dev_xmit+0x1a1/0x270 net/hsr/hsr_device.c:223
__netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:4940 [inline]
netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:4954 [inline]
xmit_one net/core/dev.c:3548 [inline]
dev_hard_start_xmit+0x247/0xa10 net/core/dev.c:3564
__dev_queue_xmit+0x33b8/0x5130 net/core/dev.c:4349
dev_queue_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:3134 [inline]
packet_xmit+0x9c/0x6b0 net/packet/af_packet.c:276
packet_snd net/packet/af_packet.c:3087 [inline]
packet_sendmsg+0x8b1d/0x9f30 net/packet/af_packet.c:3119
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:745 [inline]
__sys_sendto+0x735/0xa10 net/socket.c:2191
__do_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2203 [inline]
__se_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2199 [inline]
__x64_sys_sendto+0x125/0x1c0 net/socket.c:2199
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0x6d/0x140 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0x6b
Uninit was created at:
slab_post_alloc_hook+0x129/0xa70 mm/slab.h:768
slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:3478 [inline]
kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x5e9/0xb10 mm/slub.c:3523
kmalloc_reserve+0x13d/0x4a0 net/core/skbuff.c:560
__alloc_skb+0x318/0x740 net/core/skbuff.c:651
alloc_skb include/linux/skbuff.h:1286 [inline]
alloc_skb_with_frags+0xc8/0xbd0 net/core/skbuff.c:6334
sock_alloc_send_pskb+0xa80/0xbf0 net/core/sock.c:2787
packet_alloc_skb net/packet/af_packet.c:2936 [inline]
packet_snd net/packet/af_packet.c:3030 [inline]
packet_sendmsg+0x70e8/0x9f30 net/packet/af_packet.c:3119
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:745 [inline]
__sys_sendto+0x735/0xa10 net/socket.c:2191
__do_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2203 [inline]
__se_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2199 [inline]
__x64_sys_sendto+0x125/0x1c0 net/socket.c:2199
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0x6d/0x140 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0x6b
CPU: 1 PID: 5033 Comm: syz-executor334 Not tainted 6.7.0-syzkaller-00562-g9f8413c4a66f #0
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 11/17/2023
=====================================================
If the packet type ID field in the Ethernet header is either ETH_P_PRP or
ETH_P_HSR, but it is not followed by an HSR tag, hsr_get_skb_sequence_nr()
reads an invalid value as a sequence number. This causes the above issue.
This patch fixes the issue by returning NULL if the Ethernet header is not
followed by an HSR tag.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-26863 is a Linux kernel networking bug in HSR handling. A malformed HSR or PRP-marked Ethernet frame can cause the kernel to read an uninitialized value. The public record confirms a kernel fix, but does not provide CVSS, proven exploitation, or clear business impact details.
Executive priority
Handle through the normal kernel security patch process, with higher priority for industrial, embedded, or high-availability networking environments using HSR/PRP. Current public evidence does not support emergency treatment based on active exploitation.
Technical view
The flaw is in hsr_get_node() within net/hsr/hsr_framereg.c. If an Ethernet type indicates ETH_P_PRP or ETH_P_HSR but no HSR tag follows, hsr_get_skb_sequence_nr() can consume invalid sequence data. The fix returns NULL when the expected HSR tag is absent.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using or carrying HSR/PRP high-availability Ethernet traffic. Generic Linux fleets may still inherit the vulnerable code if running affected kernels, but practical exposure depends on kernel version, configuration, and network role.
Exploitation context
The source bundle cites KMSAN and syzkaller discovery evidence, not real-world abuse. KEV is false, and no cited source states active exploitation. The bundle does not establish whether exploitation causes crash, information disclosure, or another impact.
Researcher notes
Key unknowns are impact severity and exploitability. The record documents an uninitialized-value access and the precise malformed tag condition, but does not provide CVSS, CWE, or exploitation outcome. Avoid assuming affected Siemens products beyond the cited advisories.
Mitigation direction
Apply Linux kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
Use distribution advisories, such as Debian LTS, to identify packaged fixed versions.
Check Siemens advisories for relevant industrial or embedded deployments.
Prioritize systems that use HSR, PRP, or high-availability Ethernet networking.
If no packaged fix is available, follow vendor mitigation guidance.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, and embedded systems.
Identify systems with HSR or PRP networking enabled or exposed.
Map running kernels to fixed vendor or upstream stable releases.
Confirm Debian LTS or appliance vendor advisories are applied where relevant.
Review network roles before treating generic Linux exposure as business-critical.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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