Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux Wi-Fi driver may leave background work running while the driver stops, allowing that work to access freed memory. This can destabilize the operating system and may permit serious confidentiality, integrity, or availability impact. The supplied scoring requires local, low-privileged access; it does not describe a remote attack.
Executive priority
Treat this as an expedited kernel-maintenance issue on systems using rtl8xxxu, especially where untrusted users or workloads have local access. The available evidence does not support an emergency remote-compromise response, but the potential kernel-level impact justifies timely inventory, vendor confirmation, and patching.
Technical view
CVE-2024-27052 is a use-after-free race in Linux's rtl8xxxu driver. c2hcmd_work may remain active after rtl8xxxu_stop() releases associated resources. The stable fix synchronously cancels that work during shutdown using cancel_work_sync(). CVSS 3.1 rates it 7.8: local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running an affected Linux kernel where rtl8xxxu is relevant and the vulnerable driver lifecycle can be reached. An attacker requires local low-privileged access according to the CVSS vector. The supplied version data is ambiguous, so kernel version matching should be confirmed through distribution or appliance vendor guidance.
Exploitation context
The source bundle marks this CVE as absent from CISA KEV and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. This does not establish that exploitation is impossible. Practical risk depends on reliably reaching the driver-stop race and converting the resulting use-after-free into impact.
Researcher notes
The confirmed defect is a workqueue lifetime race during driver shutdown. Stable commits across multiple kernel branches support the fix's availability, but the normalized affected-version entries contain duplication and unclear boundaries. CVSS impact values do not establish exploit reliability. No supplied source demonstrates weaponization or in-the-wild activity.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable rtl8xxxu stable fix for the deployed kernel branch.
- Use distribution or appliance advisories to identify exact fixed package versions; the supplied version mapping is ambiguous.
- Prioritize systems where rtl8xxxu is loaded and local users or workloads are not fully trusted.
- Follow vendor reboot or service-restart guidance so the corrected kernel and driver code are active.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel versions and determine whether rtl8xxxu is built, available, or loaded.
- Match each kernel package to the applicable vendor advisory or stable-branch fix.
- Confirm the source or vendor backport cancels c2hcmd_work synchronously within rtl8xxxu_stop().
- After remediation, verify systems are running the intended updated kernel.
- Review kernel crash records for use-after-free reports involving rtl8xxxu or c2hcmd_work.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-27052 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.45.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.4HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dddedfa3b29a63c2ca4336663806a6128b8545b4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac512507ac89c01ed6cd4ca53032f52cdb23ea59CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3518cea837de4d106efa84ddac18a07b6de1384eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/156012667b85ca7305cb363790d3ae8519a6f41eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7059cdb69f8e1a2707dd1e2f363348b507ed7707CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58fe3bbddfec10c6b216096d8c0e517cd8463e3aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1213acb478a7181cd73eeaf00db430f1e45b1361CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00017.htmlCVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.