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CVE Record

CVE-2024-36944: Reapply "drm/qxl: simplify qxl_fence_wait"

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Reapply "drm/qxl: simplify qxl_fence_wait" This reverts commit 07ed11afb68d94eadd4ffc082b97c2331307c5ea. Stephen Rostedt reports: "I went to run my tests on my VMs and the tests hung on boot up. Unfortunately, the most I ever got out was: [ 93.607888] Testing event system initcall: OK [ 93.667730] Running tests on all trace events: [ 93.669757] Testing all events: OK [ 95.631064] ------------[ cut here ]------------ Timed out after 60 seconds" and further debugging points to a possible circular locking dependency between the console_owner locking and the worker pool locking. Reverting the commit allows Steve's VM to boot to completion again. [ This may obviously result in the "[TTM] Buffer eviction failed" messages again, which was the reason for that original revert. But at this point this seems preferable to a non-booting system... ]

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-36944 is a Linux kernel availability issue in the QXL DRM graphics driver, commonly relevant to virtual machines using QXL/SPICE graphics. The reported failure involved VMs hanging during boot because of a suspected circular locking dependency. Public sources do not indicate data theft, privilege escalation, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate operational reliability issue, not an emergency breach risk. Prioritize affected virtualization fleets because a boot hang can disrupt service recovery, maintenance windows, or automated testing. Patch through normal kernel maintenance after confirming distribution guidance.

Technical view

The issue is in the Linux kernel drm/qxl path around qxl_fence_wait. The CVE record describes a revert/reapply sequence after testing showed VM boot hangs and possible circular locking between console_owner locking and worker pool locking. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5: local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction, availability impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems, especially virtual machines, using the QXL graphics driver. Systems not using QXL graphics are less likely to be affected. The source bundle lists stable kernel references and versions 5.15.156, 6.1.87, 6.6.28, and 6.8.7 in the affected data, but package-level vendor applicability should be confirmed.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates local access with low privileges is required. The known impact is denial of service or boot hang, not confidentiality or integrity compromise. The CVE is not marked as CISA KEV, and the provided sources do not report active exploitation or public weaponization.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the Linux kernel CVE description and stable commit references. The record frames the issue as a resolved regression involving locking and VM boot hangs. No CWE is listed. Avoid assuming remote reachability or exploitability beyond the CVSS local availability model.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Linux distribution advisories for CVE-2024-36944 applicability and fixed kernel packages.
  • Prioritize updates for VMs using QXL/SPICE graphics where boot reliability matters.
  • Move affected workloads to vendor-supported fixed kernel builds when available.
  • If unable to patch, consider vendor guidance on alternative virtual graphics configurations.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernels and identify systems using the QXL DRM driver.
  • Compare running kernel versions against distribution advisories and stable kernel references.
  • Check VM boot logs for hangs or QXL/TTM-related availability symptoms.
  • Confirm remediation by boot testing representative QXL-based VMs after kernel update.
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

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.

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CVE-2024-36944 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
6Source links

SSVC decision data

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

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-36944Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux8d278fc34cdd8a44e995fa93dfd31d619a2e1fe6, 84fb60063509e462e39c0e097c7d6dbb71c95967, 42cbe04a5c77da74fb7161b0ae63f1f6e105d633, 13ab5db42a593f9904acc39055ee3ae75963fc88, 07ed11afb68d94eadd4ffc082b97c2331307c5eaunaffected
LinuxLinux5.15.156, 6.1.87, 6.6.28, 6.8.7unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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