LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2024-42236: usb: gadget: configfs: Prevent OOB read/write in usb_string_copy()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: gadget: configfs: Prevent OOB read/write in usb_string_copy() Userspace provided string 's' could trivially have the length zero. Left unchecked this will firstly result in an OOB read in the form `if (str[0 - 1] == '\n') followed closely by an OOB write in the form `str[0 - 1] = '\0'`. There is already a validating check to catch strings that are too long. Let's supply an additional check for invalid strings that are too short.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A locally authenticated user may trigger a Linux kernel memory-safety error through USB gadget configuration. An empty userspace-supplied string causes memory access immediately outside its buffer, potentially affecting confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Systems are mainly exposed when affected kernels provide untrusted users access to the relevant configfs interface.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation on multi-user, appliance, kiosk, and embedded systems where less-trusted users can configure USB gadgets. Treat ordinary servers without accessible gadget configfs as lower immediate risk, while still applying supported kernel updates during the normal security cycle.

Technical view

The Linux USB gadget configfs function usb_string_copy() failed to reject zero-length strings. It accessed str[length-1], producing an out-of-bounds read followed by an out-of-bounds null-byte write. The upstream resolution adds a minimum-length validation check; multiple stable-kernel fix commits are cited.

Likely exposure

Exposure requires local access with low privileges and reachability of the USB gadget configfs path. Internet-facing status alone does not create direct exposure. Embedded devices and systems using configurable USB gadget functionality warrant attention. The supplied version data spans multiple kernel branches, so distribution backports must be checked rather than relying only on version numbers.

Exploitation context

The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local, low-complexity, low-privilege exploitation and no user interaction. The bundle states that this CVE is not in KEV, and the cited material does not establish active exploitation or a public weaponized exploit.

Researcher notes

The primitive is an index of negative one when length equals zero: first a read, then a null-byte write. Sources describe the defect and validation fix but do not demonstrate reliable privilege escalation, code execution, or denial of service. Branch-specific commit ancestry and distribution backports require product-level verification.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream stable fix.
  • Review distribution advisories because vendors may backport fixes without changing the apparent upstream version.
  • Prioritize systems where untrusted local users can access USB gadget configfs.
  • Reboot into the corrected kernel when required by the operating-system vendor.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux and embedded systems.
  • Identify hosts using USB gadget functionality and exposing its configfs configuration.
  • Check vendor package changelogs for CVE-2024-42236 or the applicable cited fix commit.
  • After remediation, confirm each system is running the corrected kernel, not merely storing it.
  • Monitor vendor guidance for branch-specific affected and fixed version boundaries.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
11

Public sources used

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-2024-42236 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
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
10Source 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-2024-42236Attack 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

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076, 88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076, 88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076, 88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076, 88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076, 88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076, 88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076, 88af8bbe4ef781031ad3370847553f3b42ba0076unaffected
LinuxLinux3.10, 0, 4.19.318, 5.4.280, 5.10.222, 5.15.163, 6.1.100, 6.6.41, 6.9.10, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.