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CVE Record

CVE-2024-35981: virtio_net: Do not send RSS key if it is not supported

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio_net: Do not send RSS key if it is not supported There is a bug when setting the RSS options in virtio_net that can break the whole machine, getting the kernel into an infinite loop. Running the following command in any QEMU virtual machine with virtionet will reproduce this problem: # ethtool -X eth0 hfunc toeplitz This is how the problem happens: 1) ethtool_set_rxfh() calls virtnet_set_rxfh() 2) virtnet_set_rxfh() calls virtnet_commit_rss_command() 3) virtnet_commit_rss_command() populates 4 entries for the rss scatter-gather 4) Since the command above does not have a key, then the last scatter-gatter entry will be zeroed, since rss_key_size == 0. sg_buf_size = vi->rss_key_size; 5) This buffer is passed to qemu, but qemu is not happy with a buffer with zero length, and do the following in virtqueue_map_desc() (QEMU function): if (!sz) { virtio_error(vdev, "virtio: zero sized buffers are not allowed"); 6) virtio_error() (also QEMU function) set the device as broken vdev->broken = true; 7) Qemu bails out, and do not repond this crazy kernel. 8) The kernel is waiting for the response to come back (function virtnet_send_command()) 9) The kernel is waiting doing the following : while (!virtqueue_get_buf(vi->cvq, &tmp) && !virtqueue_is_broken(vi->cvq)) cpu_relax(); 10) None of the following functions above is true, thus, the kernel loops here forever. Keeping in mind that virtqueue_is_broken() does not look at the qemu `vdev->broken`, so, it never realizes that the vitio is broken at QEMU side. Fix it by not sending RSS commands if the feature is not available in the device.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-35981 is a Linux kernel virtio_net flaw that can hang a QEMU virtual machine. A network RSS configuration request can put the guest kernel into an infinite loop. The business impact is availability loss for affected Linux VMs using virtio networking, not data theft based on the provided sources.

Executive priority

Handle as a reliability and service-availability issue. Prioritize critical QEMU-based Linux VMs and shared virtualization environments. There is no sourced evidence of active exploitation, but the failure mode can freeze affected guest systems.

Technical view

In virtio_net, an RSS configuration path can send a zero-length RSS key buffer when the device lacks the feature. QEMU rejects the zero-sized buffer and marks the virtio device broken. The guest kernel then waits for a response it never receives, causing an infinite loop. The upstream fix avoids sending RSS commands when unsupported.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux guests using virtio_net in QEMU. The source notes the issue can be reproduced in any QEMU VM with virtio_net. Administrative network configuration capability inside the guest is likely needed, but the source does not explicitly define privileges.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is cited, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. The described impact is denial of service inside an affected VM. The public description includes a reproduction scenario, so treat vulnerable virtualized Linux workloads as operationally exposed.

Researcher notes

The affected path is ethtool RSS configuration through virtnet_set_rxfh and virtnet_commit_rss_command. The root issue is a zero-length scatter-gather RSS key sent to QEMU when unsupported. Available source data lacks CVSS, CWE, and explicit distribution package status.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected Linux kernels using distribution or kernel stable guidance.
  • Prioritize QEMU guests using virtio_net on multi-tenant or critical hosts.
  • Confirm fixes include the referenced stable kernel commits.
  • Restrict guest administrative network configuration access where practical.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux VMs using virtio_net under QEMU.
  • Check kernel versions against vendor advisories and stable fixes.
  • Verify patched kernels contain the upstream virtio_net RSS fix.
  • Review monitoring for VM hangs tied to network configuration changes.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

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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CVE-2024-35981 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
5Source 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
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxc7114b1249fa3b5f3a434606ba4cc89c4a27d618, c7114b1249fa3b5f3a434606ba4cc89c4a27d618, c7114b1249fa3b5f3a434606ba4cc89c4a27d618, c7114b1249fa3b5f3a434606ba4cc89c4a27d618unaffected
LinuxLinux5.18, 0, 6.1.90, 6.6.29, 6.8.7, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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