CVE-2024-36933: nsh: Restore skb->{protocol,data,mac_header} for outer header in nsh_gso_segment().
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
nsh: Restore skb->{protocol,data,mac_header} for outer header in nsh_gso_segment().
syzbot triggered various splats (see [0] and links) by a crafted GSO
packet of VIRTIO_NET_HDR_GSO_UDP layering the following protocols:
ETH_P_8021AD + ETH_P_NSH + ETH_P_IPV6 + IPPROTO_UDP
NSH can encapsulate IPv4, IPv6, Ethernet, NSH, and MPLS. As the inner
protocol can be Ethernet, NSH GSO handler, nsh_gso_segment(), calls
skb_mac_gso_segment() to invoke inner protocol GSO handlers.
nsh_gso_segment() does the following for the original skb before
calling skb_mac_gso_segment()
1. reset skb->network_header
2. save the original skb->{mac_heaeder,mac_len} in a local variable
3. pull the NSH header
4. resets skb->mac_header
5. set up skb->mac_len and skb->protocol for the inner protocol.
and does the following for the segmented skb
6. set ntohs(ETH_P_NSH) to skb->protocol
7. push the NSH header
8. restore skb->mac_header
9. set skb->mac_header + mac_len to skb->network_header
10. restore skb->mac_len
There are two problems in 6-7 and 8-9.
(a)
After 6 & 7, skb->data points to the NSH header, so the outer header
(ETH_P_8021AD in this case) is stripped when skb is sent out of netdev.
Also, if NSH is encapsulated by NSH + Ethernet (so NSH-Ethernet-NSH),
skb_pull() in the first nsh_gso_segment() will make skb->data point
to the middle of the outer NSH or Ethernet header because the Ethernet
header is not pulled by the second nsh_gso_segment().
(b)
While restoring skb->{mac_header,network_header} in 8 & 9,
nsh_gso_segment() does not assume that the data in the linear
buffer is shifted.
However, udp6_ufo_fragment() could shift the data and change
skb->mac_header accordingly as demonstrated by syzbot.
If this happens, even the restored skb->mac_header points to
the middle of the outer header.
It seems nsh_gso_segment() has never worked with outer headers so far.
At the end of nsh_gso_segment(), the outer header must be restored for
the segmented skb, instead of the NSH header.
To do that, let's calculate the outer header position relatively from
the inner header and set skb->{data,mac_header,protocol} properly.
[0]:
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in ipvlan_process_outbound drivers/net/ipvlan/ipvlan_core.c:524 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in ipvlan_xmit_mode_l3 drivers/net/ipvlan/ipvlan_core.c:602 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in ipvlan_queue_xmit+0xf44/0x16b0 drivers/net/ipvlan/ipvlan_core.c:668
ipvlan_process_outbound drivers/net/ipvlan/ipvlan_core.c:524 [inline]
ipvlan_xmit_mode_l3 drivers/net/ipvlan/ipvlan_core.c:602 [inline]
ipvlan_queue_xmit+0xf44/0x16b0 drivers/net/ipvlan/ipvlan_core.c:668
ipvlan_start_xmit+0x5c/0x1a0 drivers/net/ipvlan/ipvlan_main.c:222
__netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:4989 [inline]
netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:5003 [inline]
xmit_one net/core/dev.c:3547 [inline]
dev_hard_start_xmit+0x244/0xa10 net/core/dev.c:3563
__dev_queue_xmit+0x33ed/0x51c0 net/core/dev.c:4351
dev_queue_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:3171 [inline]
packet_xmit+0x9c/0x6b0 net/packet/af_packet.c:276
packet_snd net/packet/af_packet.c:3081 [inline]
packet_sendmsg+0x8aef/0x9f10 net/packet/af_packet.c:3113
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:745 [inline]
__sys_sendto+0x735/0xa10 net/socket.c:2191
__do_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2203 [inline]
__se_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2199 [inline]
__x64_sys_sendto+0x125/0x1c0 net/socket.c:2199
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0xcf/0x1e0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0x6b
Uninit was created at:
slab_post_alloc_hook mm/slub.c:3819 [inline]
slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:3860 [inline]
__do_kmalloc_node mm/slub.c:3980 [inline]
__kmalloc_node_track_caller+0x705/0x1000 mm/slub.c:4001
kmalloc_reserve+0x249/0x4a0 net/core/skbuff.c:582
__
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux networking flaw mishandles packet-header pointers while segmenting specially crafted NSH-encapsulated traffic. A low-privileged local user could potentially trigger kernel faults or incorrect packet processing. The supplied CVSS assessment is 7.8, with potentially serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability consequences. No active exploitation is evidenced.
Executive priority
Treat this as high-priority kernel maintenance, especially on multi-tenant systems permitting untrusted local workloads or advanced networking. Evidence does not support an emergency internet-wide threat, but the potential kernel-level impact warrants prompt patch verification and reboot tracking.
Technical view
nsh_gso_segment() restored the NSH header instead of the true outer header and assumed buffer offsets remained stable. Inner UDP segmentation could shift data, leaving skb data, mac_header, and protocol fields pointing into the wrong header. syzbot reproduced uninitialized-value warnings. The fix recalculates the outer-header position and restores those fields correctly.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on listed affected Linux versions where local users or workloads can exercise NSH and GSO networking paths. The CVSS vector requires local access and low privileges, not direct unauthenticated network access. Distribution backports may change whether a particular kernel build remains vulnerable.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV status is false, and the bundle provides no evidence of exploitation in the wild or public weaponization. Available evidence is a syzbot-generated crafted packet that triggered kernel sanitizer warnings. The CVSS vector indicates low-complexity exploitation from a low-privileged local context without user interaction.
Researcher notes
The affected-version metadata is coarse and includes repeated commit identifiers, so branch and vendor-build status require confirmation. No CWE is supplied. The root issue concerns restoration of skb protocol, data, and header offsets after nested NSH segmentation and possible buffer shifting. The supplied description is truncated, limiting deeper impact assessment.
Mitigation direction
Identify hosts on listed affected Linux branches and map running kernels to distribution backports.
Apply the appropriate distribution or Linux stable update containing the referenced fix, then reboot.
If patch status is unclear, consult vendor guidance; the bundle identifies no separate workaround.
Validation and detection
Confirm the updated kernel is running after reboot, not merely installed.
Verify vendor changelogs or kernel source include the referenced fix or an equivalent backport.
Reassess systems where untrusted local workloads can reach NSH and GSO networking paths.
Review kernel logs for related networking faults; clean logs alone do not prove remediation.
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
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.
cve · low confidence lookup
CVE-2024-36933 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
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.
We 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.