CVE-2024-39301: net/9p: fix uninit-value in p9_client_rpc()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/9p: fix uninit-value in p9_client_rpc()
Syzbot with the help of KMSAN reported the following error:
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in trace_9p_client_res include/trace/events/9p.h:146 [inline]
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in p9_client_rpc+0x1314/0x1340 net/9p/client.c:754
trace_9p_client_res include/trace/events/9p.h:146 [inline]
p9_client_rpc+0x1314/0x1340 net/9p/client.c:754
p9_client_create+0x1551/0x1ff0 net/9p/client.c:1031
v9fs_session_init+0x1b9/0x28e0 fs/9p/v9fs.c:410
v9fs_mount+0xe2/0x12b0 fs/9p/vfs_super.c:122
legacy_get_tree+0x114/0x290 fs/fs_context.c:662
vfs_get_tree+0xa7/0x570 fs/super.c:1797
do_new_mount+0x71f/0x15e0 fs/namespace.c:3352
path_mount+0x742/0x1f20 fs/namespace.c:3679
do_mount fs/namespace.c:3692 [inline]
__do_sys_mount fs/namespace.c:3898 [inline]
__se_sys_mount+0x725/0x810 fs/namespace.c:3875
__x64_sys_mount+0xe4/0x150 fs/namespace.c:3875
do_syscall_64+0xd5/0x1f0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6d/0x75
Uninit was created at:
__alloc_pages+0x9d6/0xe70 mm/page_alloc.c:4598
__alloc_pages_node include/linux/gfp.h:238 [inline]
alloc_pages_node include/linux/gfp.h:261 [inline]
alloc_slab_page mm/slub.c:2175 [inline]
allocate_slab mm/slub.c:2338 [inline]
new_slab+0x2de/0x1400 mm/slub.c:2391
___slab_alloc+0x1184/0x33d0 mm/slub.c:3525
__slab_alloc mm/slub.c:3610 [inline]
__slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:3663 [inline]
slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:3835 [inline]
kmem_cache_alloc+0x6d3/0xbe0 mm/slub.c:3852
p9_tag_alloc net/9p/client.c:278 [inline]
p9_client_prepare_req+0x20a/0x1770 net/9p/client.c:641
p9_client_rpc+0x27e/0x1340 net/9p/client.c:688
p9_client_create+0x1551/0x1ff0 net/9p/client.c:1031
v9fs_session_init+0x1b9/0x28e0 fs/9p/v9fs.c:410
v9fs_mount+0xe2/0x12b0 fs/9p/vfs_super.c:122
legacy_get_tree+0x114/0x290 fs/fs_context.c:662
vfs_get_tree+0xa7/0x570 fs/super.c:1797
do_new_mount+0x71f/0x15e0 fs/namespace.c:3352
path_mount+0x742/0x1f20 fs/namespace.c:3679
do_mount fs/namespace.c:3692 [inline]
__do_sys_mount fs/namespace.c:3898 [inline]
__se_sys_mount+0x725/0x810 fs/namespace.c:3875
__x64_sys_mount+0xe4/0x150 fs/namespace.c:3875
do_syscall_64+0xd5/0x1f0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6d/0x75
If p9_check_errors() fails early in p9_client_rpc(), req->rc.tag
will not be properly initialized. However, trace_9p_client_res()
ends up trying to print it out anyway before p9_client_rpc()
finishes.
Fix this issue by assigning default values to p9_fcall fields
such as 'tag' and (just in case KMSAN unearths something new) 'id'
during the tag allocation stage.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel issue is an uninitialized value read in the 9p client path. The public record shows a kernel fix, but no CVSS score, CWE, or active exploitation evidence. Business urgency is mainly for teams running affected Linux kernels where 9p/v9fs functionality is present or used.
Executive priority
Treat as routine-to-watch kernel remediation. There is no source-backed active exploitation signal, but kernel issues deserve timely patch tracking, especially where 9p/v9fs is used in production or virtualization-related workflows.
Technical view
In p9_client_rpc(), an early p9_check_errors() failure can leave req->rc.tag uninitialized while trace_9p_client_res() still prints it. The fix initializes p9_fcall fields such as tag and id during tag allocation. The report was generated by syzbot with KMSAN.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to affected Linux kernel versions using the net/9p client path, including v9fs mount/session creation. The provided data lists affected Linux versions from 3.2 through 6.10-era stable branches, with multiple stable commit fixes referenced.
Exploitation context
The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no active exploitation report. The issue is described as sanitizer-detected uninitialized-value handling, not as a documented remote compromise or privilege escalation. Exploitability and practical impact are not established in the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
Evidence is narrow: syzbot/KMSAN found an uninitialized value in trace handling after an early error path. The source does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, or non-patch mitigations. Avoid assuming broader impact beyond the 9p client path described.
Mitigation direction
Update affected Linux kernels to versions containing the referenced stable fixes.
Use distribution or kernel vendor advisories to select the corrected package.
If updating is delayed, review vendor guidance for any 9p-specific workaround.
Prioritize systems known to mount or expose 9p/v9fs functionality.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, workstations, and appliances.
Check whether 9p/v9fs support is enabled or used on exposed systems.
Confirm the installed kernel includes the relevant stable commit for its branch.
Document any systems awaiting vendor packages or reboot windows.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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