CVE-2024-35973: geneve: fix header validation in geneve[6]_xmit_skb
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
geneve: fix header validation in geneve[6]_xmit_skb
syzbot is able to trigger an uninit-value in geneve_xmit() [1]
Problem : While most ip tunnel helpers (like ip_tunnel_get_dsfield())
uses skb_protocol(skb, true), pskb_inet_may_pull() is only using
skb->protocol.
If anything else than ETH_P_IPV6 or ETH_P_IP is found in skb->protocol,
pskb_inet_may_pull() does nothing at all.
If a vlan tag was provided by the caller (af_packet in the syzbot case),
the network header might not point to the correct location, and skb
linear part could be smaller than expected.
Add skb_vlan_inet_prepare() to perform a complete mac validation.
Use this in geneve for the moment, I suspect we need to adopt this
more broadly.
v4 - Jakub reported v3 broke l2_tos_ttl_inherit.sh selftest
- Only call __vlan_get_protocol() for vlan types.
v2,v3 - Addressed Sabrina comments on v1 and v2
[1]
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in geneve_xmit_skb drivers/net/geneve.c:910 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in geneve_xmit+0x302d/0x5420 drivers/net/geneve.c:1030
geneve_xmit_skb drivers/net/geneve.c:910 [inline]
geneve_xmit+0x302d/0x5420 drivers/net/geneve.c:1030
__netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:4903 [inline]
netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:4917 [inline]
xmit_one net/core/dev.c:3531 [inline]
dev_hard_start_xmit+0x247/0xa20 net/core/dev.c:3547
__dev_queue_xmit+0x348d/0x52c0 net/core/dev.c:4335
dev_queue_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:3091 [inline]
packet_xmit+0x9c/0x6c0 net/packet/af_packet.c:276
packet_snd net/packet/af_packet.c:3081 [inline]
packet_sendmsg+0x8bb0/0x9ef0 net/packet/af_packet.c:3113
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg+0x30f/0x380 net/socket.c:745
__sys_sendto+0x685/0x830 net/socket.c:2191
__do_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2203 [inline]
__se_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2199 [inline]
__x64_sys_sendto+0x125/0x1d0 net/socket.c:2199
do_syscall_64+0xd5/0x1f0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6d/0x75
Uninit was created at:
slab_post_alloc_hook mm/slub.c:3804 [inline]
slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:3845 [inline]
kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x613/0xc50 mm/slub.c:3888
kmalloc_reserve+0x13d/0x4a0 net/core/skbuff.c:577
__alloc_skb+0x35b/0x7a0 net/core/skbuff.c:668
alloc_skb include/linux/skbuff.h:1318 [inline]
alloc_skb_with_frags+0xc8/0xbf0 net/core/skbuff.c:6504
sock_alloc_send_pskb+0xa81/0xbf0 net/core/sock.c:2795
packet_alloc_skb net/packet/af_packet.c:2930 [inline]
packet_snd net/packet/af_packet.c:3024 [inline]
packet_sendmsg+0x722d/0x9ef0 net/packet/af_packet.c:3113
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg+0x30f/0x380 net/socket.c:745
__sys_sendto+0x685/0x830 net/socket.c:2191
__do_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2203 [inline]
__se_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2199 [inline]
__x64_sys_sendto+0x125/0x1d0 net/socket.c:2199
do_syscall_64+0xd5/0x1f0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6d/0x75
CPU: 0 PID: 5033 Comm: syz-executor346 Not tainted 6.9.0-rc1-syzkaller-00005-g928a87efa423 #0
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 02/29/2024
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-35973 is a Linux kernel Geneve tunneling bug where malformed local packet handling can trigger use of uninitialized data and potentially crash or disrupt the host. It is not shown as actively exploited, but availability impact is high on exposed systems.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority infrastructure patching item. It is mainly a local availability risk, but it matters more on shared Linux hosts, network virtualization nodes, and systems supporting Geneve overlays.
Technical view
The flaw is in geneve_xmit_skb/geneve6_xmit_skb header validation. When skb->protocol differs from IPv4 or IPv6, VLAN-tagged input can leave network headers mispositioned and the linear skb smaller than expected. The upstream fix adds skb_vlan_inet_prepare() for fuller MAC/VLAN validation.
Likely exposure
Linux systems running affected kernel builds are relevant, especially where Geneve tunneling is available and local users or workloads can reach packet transmission paths. Exposure is local with low privileges per CVSS, not remote network-only from the provided evidence.
Exploitation context
The source evidence comes from syzbot triggering a KMSAN uninitialized-value report through AF_PACKET. The CVE is not listed in KEV, and the provided bundle does not show active exploitation or a public weaponized exploit.
Researcher notes
The affected-version data is kernel-centric and commit-heavy, so distro backport status matters. The core bug is incomplete header validation around VLAN protocol handling before Geneve transmit processing, with syzbot evidence showing uninitialized-value behavior rather than confirmed exploitation.
Mitigation direction
Apply Linux kernel or distribution updates containing the stable Geneve validation fix.
Prioritize hosts using Geneve tunneling, virtualization networking, or multi-tenant local workloads.
Review Debian LTS and vendor advisories for package-specific fixed versions.
If immediate patching is delayed, check vendor guidance for supported temporary controls.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions against the CVE affected and fixed stable references.
Confirm whether Geneve is enabled, loaded, or operationally used on each host.
Verify installed kernel packages include the referenced upstream stable commits or vendor backports.
Review local user and workload ability to access packet-socket transmission paths.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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