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CVE Record

CVE-2024-35873: riscv: Fix vector state restore in rt_sigreturn()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: riscv: Fix vector state restore in rt_sigreturn() The RISC-V Vector specification states in "Appendix D: Calling Convention for Vector State" [1] that "Executing a system call causes all caller-saved vector registers (v0-v31, vl, vtype) and vstart to become unspecified.". In the RISC-V kernel this is called "discarding the vstate". Returning from a signal handler via the rt_sigreturn() syscall, vector discard is also performed. However, this is not an issue since the vector state should be restored from the sigcontext, and therefore not care about the vector discard. The "live state" is the actual vector register in the running context, and the "vstate" is the vector state of the task. A dirty live state, means that the vstate and live state are not in synch. When vectorized user_from_copy() was introduced, an bug sneaked in at the restoration code, related to the discard of the live state. An example when this go wrong: 1. A userland application is executing vector code 2. The application receives a signal, and the signal handler is entered. 3. The application returns from the signal handler, using the rt_sigreturn() syscall. 4. The live vector state is discarded upon entering the rt_sigreturn(), and the live state is marked as "dirty", indicating that the live state need to be synchronized with the current vstate. 5. rt_sigreturn() restores the vstate, except the Vector registers, from the sigcontext 6. rt_sigreturn() restores the Vector registers, from the sigcontext, and now the vectorized user_from_copy() is used. The dirty live state from the discard is saved to the vstate, making the vstate corrupt. 7. rt_sigreturn() returns to the application, which crashes due to corrupted vstate. Note that the vectorized user_from_copy() is invoked depending on the value of CONFIG_RISCV_ISA_V_UCOPY_THRESHOLD. Default is 768, which means that vlen has to be larger than 128b for this bug to trigger. The fix is simply to mark the live state as non-dirty/clean prior performing the vstate restore.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue affects RISC-V systems using vector instructions. After a signal handler returns, the kernel can restore corrupted vector state, causing the affected application to crash. The provided sources do not show privilege escalation, data theft, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted platform stability issue. Prioritize patching RISC-V systems supporting production workloads, but it is not currently supported as an emergency internet-wide exploitation risk.

Technical view

The flaw is in RISC-V rt_sigreturn() vector state restoration. A discarded dirty live vector state can be saved over restored task vector state when vectorized user_from_copy() runs, corrupting vstate. The source notes triggering depends on CONFIG_RISCV_ISA_V_UCOPY_THRESHOLD and vector length above 128 bits by default.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux on RISC-V systems using the vector extension, affected kernel versions or commits listed in the CVE, and workloads using vector code with signal handling.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle says KEV is false and gives no evidence of public exploitation. The described outcome is an application crash from corrupted vector state, under specific RISC-V vector conditions.

Researcher notes

The CVE text ties the bug to vectorized user_from_copy() during rt_sigreturn() and dirty live-state handling. Evidence is incomplete for security impact beyond user process crash; avoid assuming broader compromise without additional vendor analysis.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for backported fixes on RISC-V kernels.
  • Prioritize RISC-V systems running vector-enabled workloads.
  • If no vendor package exists, follow vendor kernel guidance before custom patching.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory RISC-V Linux systems and running kernel versions.
  • Confirm whether the RISC-V vector extension is enabled or used.
  • Check kernel builds for CONFIG_RISCV_ISA_V_UCOPY_THRESHOLD behavior.
  • Verify vendor kernel packages include the referenced stable commits.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

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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CVE-2024-35873 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
3Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxc2a658d419246108c9bf065ec347355de5ba8a05, c2a658d419246108c9bf065ec347355de5ba8a05unaffected
LinuxLinux6.8, 0, 6.8.5, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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