CVE-2024-39502: ionic: fix use after netif_napi_del()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ionic: fix use after netif_napi_del()
When queues are started, netif_napi_add() and napi_enable() are called.
If there are 4 queues and only 3 queues are used for the current
configuration, only 3 queues' napi should be registered and enabled.
The ionic_qcq_enable() checks whether the .poll pointer is not NULL for
enabling only the using queue' napi. Unused queues' napi will not be
registered by netif_napi_add(), so the .poll pointer indicates NULL.
But it couldn't distinguish whether the napi was unregistered or not
because netif_napi_del() doesn't reset the .poll pointer to NULL.
So, ionic_qcq_enable() calls napi_enable() for the queue, which was
unregistered by netif_napi_del().
Reproducer:
ethtool -L <interface name> rx 1 tx 1 combined 0
ethtool -L <interface name> rx 0 tx 0 combined 1
ethtool -L <interface name> rx 0 tx 0 combined 4
Splat looks like:
kernel BUG at net/core/dev.c:6666!
Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI
CPU: 3 PID: 1057 Comm: kworker/3:3 Not tainted 6.10.0-rc2+ #16
Workqueue: events ionic_lif_deferred_work [ionic]
RIP: 0010:napi_enable+0x3b/0x40
Code: 48 89 c2 48 83 e2 f6 80 b9 61 09 00 00 00 74 0d 48 83 bf 60 01 00 00 00 74 03 80 ce 01 f0 4f
RSP: 0018:ffffb6ed83227d48 EFLAGS: 00010246
RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff97560cda0828 RCX: 0000000000000029
RDX: 0000000000000001 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffff97560cda0a28
RBP: ffffb6ed83227d50 R08: 0000000000000400 R09: 0000000000000001
R10: 0000000000000001 R11: 0000000000000001 R12: 0000000000000000
R13: ffff97560ce3c1a0 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: ffff975613ba0a20
FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff975d5f780000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
CR2: 00007f8f734ee200 CR3: 0000000103e50000 CR4: 00000000007506f0
PKRU: 55555554
Call Trace:
<TASK>
? die+0x33/0x90
? do_trap+0xd9/0x100
? napi_enable+0x3b/0x40
? do_error_trap+0x83/0xb0
? napi_enable+0x3b/0x40
? napi_enable+0x3b/0x40
? exc_invalid_op+0x4e/0x70
? napi_enable+0x3b/0x40
? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x16/0x20
? napi_enable+0x3b/0x40
ionic_qcq_enable+0xb7/0x180 [ionic 59bdfc8a035436e1c4224ff7d10789e3f14643f8]
ionic_start_queues+0xc4/0x290 [ionic 59bdfc8a035436e1c4224ff7d10789e3f14643f8]
ionic_link_status_check+0x11c/0x170 [ionic 59bdfc8a035436e1c4224ff7d10789e3f14643f8]
ionic_lif_deferred_work+0x129/0x280 [ionic 59bdfc8a035436e1c4224ff7d10789e3f14643f8]
process_one_work+0x145/0x360
worker_thread+0x2bb/0x3d0
? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10
kthread+0xcc/0x100
? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10
ret_from_fork+0x2d/0x50
? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10
ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-39502 is a Linux kernel reliability flaw in the ionic network driver. Certain network queue reconfiguration states can cause the kernel to call NAPI on an unregistered queue and hit a kernel BUG. The evidence points mainly to local or administrative-triggered denial of service, not remote compromise.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted stability risk. Patch affected Linux hosts during normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for critical systems using ionic network adapters or Siemens-managed products that cite this CVE.
Technical view
The ionic driver uses a stale NAPI poll pointer after netif_napi_del(), because deletion does not reset that pointer. ionic_qcq_enable() may then call napi_enable() on an unregistered NAPI object, producing an invalid-op kernel crash during queue start or link-status work.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using the ionic network driver and vulnerable kernel builds listed by the CVE record. Debian LTS and Siemens advisories reference this CVE, but product-specific impact must be checked in those advisories or vendor guidance.
Exploitation context
The bundle provides a local ethtool-based reproducer and crash trace. KEV status is false, and no cited source states active exploitation. Evidence does not support claiming remote exploitation or privilege escalation.
Researcher notes
The record supplies a concrete root cause and crash path but no CVSS, CWE, or active exploitation evidence. The affected-version data should be normalized against distribution kernel package versions before reporting fleet exposure.
Mitigation direction
Apply distribution or vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable Linux fixes.
Prioritize systems using the ionic network driver in production or appliance environments.
Check Debian LTS and Siemens advisories for product-specific update instructions.
Limit network interface queue reconfiguration to trusted administrators until patched.
Validation and detection
Inventory systems for Linux kernels and active ionic network driver usage.
Compare running kernel packages with vendor advisories and stable fix inclusion.
Review kernel logs for ionic-related BUG, Oops, or napi_enable crash traces.
Confirm patched kernels remain stable during approved network configuration changes.
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-2024-39502 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.