CVE-2024-41003: bpf: Fix reg_set_min_max corruption of fake_reg
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf: Fix reg_set_min_max corruption of fake_reg
Juan reported that after doing some changes to buzzer [0] and implementing
a new fuzzing strategy guided by coverage, they noticed the following in
one of the probes:
[...]
13: (79) r6 = *(u64 *)(r0 +0) ; R0=map_value(ks=4,vs=8) R6_w=scalar()
14: (b7) r0 = 0 ; R0_w=0
15: (b4) w0 = -1 ; R0_w=0xffffffff
16: (74) w0 >>= 1 ; R0_w=0x7fffffff
17: (5c) w6 &= w0 ; R0_w=0x7fffffff R6_w=scalar(smin=smin32=0,smax=umax=umax32=0x7fffffff,var_off=(0x0; 0x7fffffff))
18: (44) w6 |= 2 ; R6_w=scalar(smin=umin=smin32=umin32=2,smax=umax=umax32=0x7fffffff,var_off=(0x2; 0x7ffffffd))
19: (56) if w6 != 0x7ffffffd goto pc+1
REG INVARIANTS VIOLATION (true_reg2): range bounds violation u64=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] s64=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] u32=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] s32=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] var_off=(0x7fffffff, 0x0)
REG INVARIANTS VIOLATION (false_reg1): range bounds violation u64=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] s64=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] u32=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] s32=[0x7fffffff, 0x7ffffffd] var_off=(0x7fffffff, 0x0)
REG INVARIANTS VIOLATION (false_reg2): const tnum out of sync with range bounds u64=[0x0, 0xffffffffffffffff] s64=[0x8000000000000000, 0x7fffffffffffffff] u32=[0x0, 0xffffffff] s32=[0x80000000, 0x7fffffff] var_off=(0x7fffffff, 0x0)
19: R6_w=0x7fffffff
20: (95) exit
from 19 to 21: R0=0x7fffffff R6=scalar(smin=umin=smin32=umin32=2,smax=umax=smax32=umax32=0x7ffffffe,var_off=(0x2; 0x7ffffffd)) R7=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) R9=ctx() R10=fp0 fp-24=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) fp-40=mmmmmmmm
21: R0=0x7fffffff R6=scalar(smin=umin=smin32=umin32=2,smax=umax=smax32=umax32=0x7ffffffe,var_off=(0x2; 0x7ffffffd)) R7=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) R9=ctx() R10=fp0 fp-24=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) fp-40=mmmmmmmm
21: (14) w6 -= 2147483632 ; R6_w=scalar(smin=umin=umin32=2,smax=umax=0xffffffff,smin32=0x80000012,smax32=14,var_off=(0x2; 0xfffffffd))
22: (76) if w6 s>= 0xe goto pc+1 ; R6_w=scalar(smin=umin=umin32=2,smax=umax=0xffffffff,smin32=0x80000012,smax32=13,var_off=(0x2; 0xfffffffd))
23: (95) exit
from 22 to 24: R0=0x7fffffff R6_w=14 R7=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) R9=ctx() R10=fp0 fp-24=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) fp-40=mmmmmmmm
24: R0=0x7fffffff R6_w=14 R7=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) R9=ctx() R10=fp0 fp-24=map_ptr(ks=4,vs=8) fp-40=mmmmmmmm
24: (14) w6 -= 14 ; R6_w=0
[...]
What can be seen here is a register invariant violation on line 19. After
the binary-or in line 18, the verifier knows that bit 2 is set but knows
nothing about the rest of the content which was loaded from a map value,
meaning, range is [2,0x7fffffff] with var_off=(0x2; 0x7ffffffd). When in
line 19 the verifier analyzes the branch, it splits the register states
in reg_set_min_max() into the registers of the true branch (true_reg1,
true_reg2) and the registers of the false branch (false_reg1, false_reg2).
Since the test is w6 != 0x7ffffffd, the src_reg is a known constant.
Internally, the verifier creates a "fake" register initialized as scalar
to the value of 0x7ffffffd, and then passes it onto reg_set_min_max(). Now,
for line 19, it is mathematically impossible to take the false branch of
this program, yet the verifier analyzes it. It is impossible because the
second bit of r6 will be set due to the prior or operation and the
constant in the condition has that bit unset (hex(fd) == binary(1111 1101).
When the verifier first analyzes the false / fall-through branch, it will
compute an intersection between the var_off of r6 and of the constant. This
is because the verifier creates a "fake" register initialized to the value
of the constant. The intersection result later refines both registers in
regs_refine_cond_op():
[...]
t = tnum_intersect(tnum_subreg(reg1->var_off), tnum_subreg(reg2->var_off));
reg1->var_o
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A flaw in the Linux kernel’s BPF verifier can corrupt its internal understanding of register values while evaluating an impossible branch. The supplied CVSS score is 7.8 because a local, low-privileged attacker may potentially affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The bundle does not document a demonstrated security impact or public exploit.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue, especially on shared Linux hosts permitting local low-privileged workloads. Expedite vendor-supported updates through normal emergency-change processes, but do not characterize it as actively exploited. Exact exposure should be confirmed against distribution advisories because the supplied version range is ambiguous.
Technical view
The BPF verifier’s reg_set_min_max path refined a synthetic constant register and could leave fake_reg with inconsistent bounds and variable-offset state. This produced register-invariant violations during conditional branch analysis. The referenced stable-kernel commits prevent the synthetic register from being corrupted.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux kernels containing the vulnerable BPF verifier code. The bundle identifies the 6.8, 6.9.7, and 6.10 version lines, but its flattened version data does not establish exact inclusive or exclusive ranges. Practical reachability requires local low-privileged access and a reachable BPF path.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources do not report active exploitation or a public exploit. The issue was discovered through coverage-guided fuzzing. CVSS characterizes exploitation as local, low complexity, requiring low privileges, with no user interaction; this describes scoring assumptions rather than confirmed exploitation.
Researcher notes
The reported failure is verifier-state corruption during comparison against a known constant: refinement of an impossible branch mutates a synthetic register and creates contradictory bounds. The source establishes invariant violations and corrective commits, but does not demonstrate verifier bypass, privilege escalation, or another concrete exploit outcome. Avoid extrapolating those outcomes without additional evidence.
Mitigation direction
Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream fix or backport.
Check distribution or appliance vendor guidance for exact affected and corrected package versions.
Prioritize multi-user and workload-hosting systems where low-privileged local access is available.
Reboot into the corrected kernel after installation, following vendor procedures.
Validation and detection
Record the running kernel version and compare it with vendor-specific affected ranges.
Confirm the installed kernel includes either referenced fix or an equivalent vendor backport.
Verify the corrected kernel is active after reboot, not merely installed.
Run normal BPF-dependent workload and kernel regression testing after remediation.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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