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CVE Record

CVE-2024-42161: bpf: Avoid uninitialized value in BPF_CORE_READ_BITFIELD

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Avoid uninitialized value in BPF_CORE_READ_BITFIELD [Changes from V1: - Use a default branch in the switch statement to initialize `val'.] GCC warns that `val' may be used uninitialized in the BPF_CRE_READ_BITFIELD macro, defined in bpf_core_read.h as: [...] unsigned long long val; \ [...] \ switch (__CORE_RELO(s, field, BYTE_SIZE)) { \ case 1: val = *(const unsigned char *)p; break; \ case 2: val = *(const unsigned short *)p; break; \ case 4: val = *(const unsigned int *)p; break; \ case 8: val = *(const unsigned long long *)p; break; \ } \ [...] val; \ } \ This patch adds a default entry in the switch statement that sets `val' to zero in order to avoid the warning, and random values to be used in case __builtin_preserve_field_info returns unexpected values for BPF_FIELD_BYTE_SIZE. Tested in bpf-next master. No regressions.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-42161 is a Linux kernel BPF issue where a helper macro could use an uninitialized value if compiler-provided field-size metadata is unexpected. The public record describes a corrective kernel patch, not evidence of compromise. Business urgency is normal kernel patch management for systems on affected Linux kernel branches.

Executive priority

Treat this as a routine kernel maintenance item unless your environment depends heavily on BPF or runs multi-tenant Linux workloads. There is no provided evidence of active exploitation or a severity score, but kernel fixes should still flow through normal patch windows.

Technical view

The issue is in BPF_CORE_READ_BITFIELD in bpf_core_read.h. Its switch initialized val for byte sizes 1, 2, 4, and 8, but lacked a default path. Unexpected BPF_FIELD_BYTE_SIZE output from __builtin_preserve_field_info could leave val uninitialized. The fix initializes val to zero in the default branch.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems using affected kernel versions or vendor kernels carrying the vulnerable BPF code. The supplied data does not identify specific distributions beyond a Debian LTS advisory reference, so validate by kernel package status, vendor advisories, and the listed stable commits.

Exploitation context

The source bundle shows no KEV listing and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. It describes a resolved kernel correctness issue and GCC warning around uninitialized values. Practical exploitability, attacker prerequisites, and impact are not established in the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports a narrow finding: an uninitialized value risk in a BPF CO-RE bitfield-read macro, fixed by adding a default initializer. The supplied sources do not establish exploit primitives, reachable attack paths, CVSS, CWE, or product impact beyond Linux kernel lineage.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor-provided Linux kernel security updates when available.
  • Confirm your kernel includes the referenced stable fix commit for its branch.
  • Track distribution advisories, including Debian LTS where relevant.
  • Do not infer remediation from upstream versions alone for vendor-patched kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, and containers hosts.
  • Check vendor advisories for CVE-2024-42161 coverage and fixed packages.
  • Verify whether deployed kernel source includes the default val initialization.
  • Prioritize externally exposed and multi-tenant Linux hosts for validation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

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-2024-42161 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
8Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

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
LinuxLinuxee26dade0e3bcd8a34ae7520e373fb69365fce7a, ee26dade0e3bcd8a34ae7520e373fb69365fce7a, ee26dade0e3bcd8a34ae7520e373fb69365fce7a, ee26dade0e3bcd8a34ae7520e373fb69365fce7a, ee26dade0e3bcd8a34ae7520e373fb69365fce7a, ee26dade0e3bcd8a34ae7520e373fb69365fce7aunaffected
LinuxLinux5.5, 0, 5.10.222, 5.15.163, 6.1.98, 6.6.39, 6.9.9, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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