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CVE Record

CVE-2024-35885: mlxbf_gige: stop interface during shutdown

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mlxbf_gige: stop interface during shutdown The mlxbf_gige driver intermittantly encounters a NULL pointer exception while the system is shutting down via "reboot" command. The mlxbf_driver will experience an exception right after executing its shutdown() method. One example of this exception is: Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000070 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 CM = 0, WnR = 0 user pgtable: 4k pages, 48-bit VAs, pgdp=000000011d373000 [0000000000000070] pgd=0000000000000000, p4d=0000000000000000 Internal error: Oops: 96000004 [#1] SMP CPU: 0 PID: 13 Comm: ksoftirqd/0 Tainted: G S OE 5.15.0-bf.6.gef6992a #1 Hardware name: https://www.mellanox.com BlueField SoC/BlueField SoC, BIOS 4.0.2.12669 Apr 21 2023 pstate: 20400009 (nzCv daif +PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : mlxbf_gige_handle_tx_complete+0xc8/0x170 [mlxbf_gige] lr : mlxbf_gige_poll+0x54/0x160 [mlxbf_gige] sp : ffff8000080d3c10 x29: ffff8000080d3c10 x28: ffffcce72cbb7000 x27: ffff8000080d3d58 x26: ffff0000814e7340 x25: ffff331cd1a05000 x24: ffffcce72c4ea008 x23: ffff0000814e4b40 x22: ffff0000814e4d10 x21: ffff0000814e4128 x20: 0000000000000000 x19: ffff0000814e4a80 x18: ffffffffffffffff x17: 000000000000001c x16: ffffcce72b4553f4 x15: ffff80008805b8a7 x14: 0000000000000000 x13: 0000000000000030 x12: 0101010101010101 x11: 7f7f7f7f7f7f7f7f x10: c2ac898b17576267 x9 : ffffcce720fa5404 x8 : ffff000080812138 x7 : 0000000000002e9a x6 : 0000000000000080 x5 : ffff00008de3b000 x4 : 0000000000000000 x3 : 0000000000000001 x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 0000000000000000 Call trace: mlxbf_gige_handle_tx_complete+0xc8/0x170 [mlxbf_gige] mlxbf_gige_poll+0x54/0x160 [mlxbf_gige] __napi_poll+0x40/0x1c8 net_rx_action+0x314/0x3a0 __do_softirq+0x128/0x334 run_ksoftirqd+0x54/0x6c smpboot_thread_fn+0x14c/0x190 kthread+0x10c/0x110 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 Code: 8b070000 f9000ea0 f95056c0 f86178a1 (b9407002) ---[ end trace 7cc3941aa0d8e6a4 ]--- Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception in interrupt Kernel Offset: 0x4ce722520000 from 0xffff800008000000 PHYS_OFFSET: 0x80000000 CPU features: 0x000005c1,a3330e5a Memory Limit: none ---[ end Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception in interrupt ]--- During system shutdown, the mlxbf_gige driver's shutdown() is always executed. However, the driver's stop() method will only execute if networking interface configuration logic within the Linux distribution has been setup to do so. If shutdown() executes but stop() does not execute, NAPI remains enabled and this can lead to an exception if NAPI is scheduled while the hardware interface has only been partially deinitialized. The networking interface managed by the mlxbf_gige driver must be properly stopped during system shutdown so that IFF_UP is cleared, the hardware interface is put into a clean state, and NAPI is fully deinitialized.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel reliability flaw in the mlxbf_gige network driver. On affected systems, a reboot or shutdown can trigger a NULL pointer crash and kernel panic if the network interface was not fully stopped first. The business impact is mainly failed or unstable maintenance operations, not data theft.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted operational availability issue. It deserves timely remediation for BlueField or mlxbf_gige deployments, especially in infrastructure where failed reboots delay maintenance or recovery. It is not supported by the sources as a broad internet-exploited emergency.

Technical view

During shutdown, mlxbf_gige shutdown() may partially deinitialize hardware while NAPI remains enabled because stop() did not run. If NAPI is scheduled afterward, transmit-completion handling can dereference NULL and panic the kernel. The fix stops the interface during shutdown so IFF_UP is cleared and NAPI is deinitialized.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the mlxbf_gige driver, especially BlueField SoC environments referenced in the kernel report. General Linux hosts not using this driver are unlikely to be affected. The supplied data does not identify vulnerable distributions or appliances beyond Linux kernel versions and stable commits.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is indicated: KEV is false and the source bundle provides no public exploit evidence. The described trigger is operational, occurring during reboot or shutdown when the driver shutdown path runs without a prior interface stop. Impact is availability disruption through kernel panic.

Researcher notes

The root issue is shutdown ordering: shutdown() may run without stop(), leaving NAPI active against partially deinitialized hardware. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, distribution advisories, or exploitability details. Validate using driver presence and fixed commit lineage rather than generic Linux version alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor or distribution kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Confirm BlueField or mlxbf_gige systems receive backported fixes from their kernel supplier.
  • Use vendor guidance for shutdown handling if updates are not immediately available.
  • Prioritize systems where reboot reliability affects production maintenance windows.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts that load or depend on the mlxbf_gige driver.
  • Check kernel package notes or source history for the referenced stable commits.
  • Review reboot logs for mlxbf_gige_handle_tx_complete or mlxbf_gige_poll kernel panics.
  • Perform controlled reboot validation after patching affected BlueField systems.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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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
6Source 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

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf92e1869d74e1acc6551256eb084a1c14a054e19, f92e1869d74e1acc6551256eb084a1c14a054e19, f92e1869d74e1acc6551256eb084a1c14a054e19, f92e1869d74e1acc6551256eb084a1c14a054e19, f92e1869d74e1acc6551256eb084a1c14a054e19unaffected
LinuxLinux5.14, 0, 5.15.154, 6.1.85, 6.6.26, 6.8.5, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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