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CVE Record

CVE-2024-40925: block: fix request.queuelist usage in flush

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: block: fix request.queuelist usage in flush Friedrich Weber reported a kernel crash problem and bisected to commit 81ada09cc25e ("blk-flush: reuse rq queuelist in flush state machine"). The root cause is that we use "list_move_tail(&rq->queuelist, pending)" in the PREFLUSH/POSTFLUSH sequences. But rq->queuelist.next == xxx since it's popped out from plug->cached_rq in __blk_mq_alloc_requests_batch(). We don't initialize its queuelist just for this first request, although the queuelist of all later popped requests will be initialized. Fix it by changing to use "list_add_tail(&rq->queuelist, pending)" so rq->queuelist doesn't need to be initialized. It should be ok since rq can't be on any list when PREFLUSH or POSTFLUSH, has no move actually. Please note the commit 81ada09cc25e ("blk-flush: reuse rq queuelist in flush state machine") also has another requirement that no drivers would touch rq->queuelist after blk_mq_end_request() since we will reuse it to add rq to the post-flush pending list in POSTFLUSH. If this is not true, we will have to revert that commit IMHO. This updated version adds "list_del_init(&rq->queuelist)" in flush rq callback since the dm layer may submit request of a weird invalid format (REQ_FSEQ_PREFLUSH | REQ_FSEQ_POSTFLUSH), which causes double list_add if without this "list_del_init(&rq->queuelist)". The weird invalid format problem should be fixed in dm layer.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel block-layer flaw can corrupt internal request-list handling during storage flush operations, causing a kernel crash. The supplied CVSS assessment also allows high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact from a local, low-privileged context. Internet exposure alone is not the attack path; affected hosts require prompt kernel assessment and maintenance planning.

Executive priority

High priority for affected Linux fleets, especially shared compute, container hosts, and systems allowing low-privileged local access. Schedule an expedited, controlled kernel update because successful triggering may crash the host and the CVSS assessment indicates broader impact. Emergency incident response is not supported solely by this bundle because active exploitation is unconfirmed.

Technical view

The flush state machine reused request.queuelist after the first batch-allocated request was removed from a cached request list without reinitialization. PREFLUSH or POSTFLUSH processing could therefore operate on invalid list state. The stable fixes use list_add_tail and add list_del_init in the callback to prevent invalid or duplicate list insertion, including an identified device-mapper edge case.

Likely exposure

Potential exposure is limited to systems running an affected Linux kernel and exercising the relevant block-device flush path. The bundle identifies versions including 6.6, 6.6.35, 6.9.6, and 6.10, but does not provide sufficiently clear range semantics. Confirm exact affected and fixed versions with the kernel or distribution vendor.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS vector describes local access, low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction. A kernel crash was reported, but the sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle. Treat crash evidence as possible exposure, not proof of malicious activity.

Researcher notes

The reported regression was bisected to commit 81ada09cc25e. The first request returned from __blk_mq_alloc_requests_batch retained stale queuelist pointers, making list_move_tail unsafe. The revised correction also handles duplicate insertion caused by an invalid combined PREFLUSH and POSTFLUSH format from device mapper. The bundle does not identify a CWE or establish practical exploitability beyond the reported crash.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable stable fix.
  • Check distribution advisories for exact affected and fixed package versions.
  • Prioritize multi-user hosts and systems running untrusted local workloads.
  • Restrict unnecessary local accounts and workload privileges until patching completes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel and installed kernel package versions across Linux systems.
  • Confirm vendor changelogs include an applicable referenced stable commit or equivalent backport.
  • Verify patched source uses safe request-list insertion and callback list reinitialization.
  • Review kernel logs for block-layer crashes, while recognizing crashes do not prove exploitation.
  • Reboot into the corrected kernel and confirm the running version afterward.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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-2024-40925 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
4Source 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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-40925Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux81ada09cc25e4bf2de7d2951925fb409338a545d, 81ada09cc25e4bf2de7d2951925fb409338a545d, 81ada09cc25e4bf2de7d2951925fb409338a545dunaffected
LinuxLinux6.6, 0, 6.6.35, 6.9.6, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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