Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux Wi-Fi driver flaw can read outside an intended SSID data boundary during wireless processing. A nearby attacker may be able to cause a kernel crash and limited information exposure. Systems without the affected iwlwifi MVM driver are unlikely to be exposed.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for Linux laptops and other wireless systems confirmed to use the affected driver. The potential kernel crash supports expedited patching, but the absence of documented active exploitation does not justify treating every Linux system as an emergency incident.
Technical view
In affected Linux kernels, iwlwifi MVM may access the SSID array without first confirming n_ssids is nonzero. Certain cfg80211 versions can provide a non-null pointer when the count is zero, causing an out-of-bounds access. CVSS 3.1 rates this 7.1, with adjacent-network reachability, low confidentiality impact, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on affected Linux systems actively using the iwlwifi MVM wireless driver. The supplied version data is ambiguous and distributions may backport fixes, so kernel version alone is insufficient. Systems without applicable Intel wireless hardware or without this driver loaded are unlikely to be affected.
Exploitation context
The supplied record does not list this CVE in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. The adjacent-network vector indicates an attacker would need relevant nearby network access. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed rather than assuming the vulnerability is being used in attacks.
Researcher notes
The corrective logic checks n_ssids before dereferencing the SSID data. The supplied affected-version entries appear incomplete or structurally ambiguous, while multiple stable-branch commits document backports. Researchers should establish exposure from driver use and source or package fix status, not from a simple upstream version comparison.
Mitigation direction
- Apply supported distribution kernel updates incorporating the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize affected systems operating in untrusted or densely populated wireless environments.
- If updates are delayed, disable affected wireless functionality where operationally acceptable.
- Consult distribution security guidance to confirm patched package versions and backport status.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux endpoints using Intel wireless hardware and determine whether iwlwifi MVM is loaded.
- Record exact kernel builds and distribution package releases, including backported fixes.
- Compare vendor changelogs or kernel source against the referenced stable fix commits.
- Confirm updated systems boot the patched kernel and retain normal wireless scanning.
- Review kernel logs for iwlwifi faults; their absence does not prove the system is patched.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
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CVE-2024-40929 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H2.84.2LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c4771091ea8016c8601399078916f722dd8833bCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f777792952d03bbaf8329fdfa99393a5a33e2640CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e719ae3abad60e245ce248ba3f08148f375a614CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/29a18d56bd64b95bd10bda4afda512558471382aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/62e007bdeb91c6879a4652c3426aef1cd9d2937bCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/60d62757df30b74bf397a2847a6db7385c6ee281CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.htmlCVE reference, CVE
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.