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CVE Record

CVE-2024-36950: firewire: ohci: mask bus reset interrupts between ISR and bottom half

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: firewire: ohci: mask bus reset interrupts between ISR and bottom half In the FireWire OHCI interrupt handler, if a bus reset interrupt has occurred, mask bus reset interrupts until bus_reset_work has serviced and cleared the interrupt. Normally, we always leave bus reset interrupts masked. We infer the bus reset from the self-ID interrupt that happens shortly thereafter. A scenario where we unmask bus reset interrupts was introduced in 2008 in a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620: If OHCI_PARAM_DEBUG_BUSRESETS (8) is set in the debug parameter bitmask, we will unmask bus reset interrupts so we can log them. irq_handler logs the bus reset interrupt. However, we can't clear the bus reset event flag in irq_handler, because we won't service the event until later. irq_handler exits with the event flag still set. If the corresponding interrupt is still unmasked, the first bus reset will usually freeze the system due to irq_handler being called again each time it exits. This freeze can be reproduced by loading firewire_ohci with "modprobe firewire_ohci debug=-1" (to enable all debugging output). Apparently there are also some cases where bus_reset_work will get called soon enough to clear the event, and operation will continue normally. This freeze was first reported a few months after a007bb85 was committed, but until now it was never fixed. The debug level could safely be set to -1 through sysfs after the module was loaded, but this would be ineffectual in logging bus reset interrupts since they were only unmasked during initialization. irq_handler will now leave the event flag set but mask bus reset interrupts, so irq_handler won't be called again and there will be no freeze. If OHCI_PARAM_DEBUG_BUSRESETS is enabled, bus_reset_work will unmask the interrupt after servicing the event, so future interrupts will be caught as desired. As a side effect to this change, OHCI_PARAM_DEBUG_BUSRESETS can now be enabled through sysfs in addition to during initial module loading. However, when enabled through sysfs, logging of bus reset interrupts will be effective only starting with the second bus reset, after bus_reset_work has executed.

MediumCVSS 4.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-36950 is a Linux kernel FireWire driver flaw that can freeze a system. It requires local, highly privileged control and a specific FireWire OHCI debug configuration. Business impact is mainly availability, not data theft or privilege escalation based on the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat as routine-to-priority patching for servers or workstations using FireWire. Escalate only for systems where availability is critical and FireWire OHCI debugging may be enabled.

Technical view

In firewire_ohci, bus reset interrupts could remain unmasked after the interrupt handler exits while the event flag stays set. With OHCI_PARAM_DEBUG_BUSRESETS enabled, repeated interrupt handling can freeze the system. The kernel fix masks bus reset interrupts until bus_reset_work services and clears the event.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems using the FireWire OHCI driver, especially where debug bus reset logging is enabled. Systems without FireWire OHCI use, or not running affected kernel builds, are unlikely to be exposed.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, high privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact. CISA KEV is not indicated in the provided data, and no cited source states active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The issue traces to behavior introduced by commit a007bb857e0b. The fix changes interrupt masking behavior between the ISR and bottom-half work. Evidence supports denial of service only; no confidentiality or integrity impact is described.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Apply relevant Debian LTS kernel updates where applicable.
  • Avoid enabling firewire_ohci all-debug or bus-reset debug logging until patched.
  • Follow distribution-specific advisories for backported fixed kernel versions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and compare against vendor fixed releases.
  • Check whether FireWire OHCI hardware and firewire_ohci are present or used.
  • Review whether FireWire OHCI debug bus reset logging is enabled.
  • Confirm installed kernel includes the relevant stable commit or vendor backport.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
8

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-2024-36950 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/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
11Source 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
4.4CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H0.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.4Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-36950Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/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
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxa007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620, a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620, a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620, a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620, a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620, a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620, a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620, a007bb857e0b26f5d8b73c2ff90782d9c0972620unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.26, 0, 4.19.314, 5.4.276, 5.10.217, 5.15.159, 6.1.91, 6.6.31, 6.8.10, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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