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CVE Record

CVE-2024-42258: mm: huge_memory: use !CONFIG_64BIT to relax huge page alignment on 32 bit machines

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: huge_memory: use !CONFIG_64BIT to relax huge page alignment on 32 bit machines Yves-Alexis Perez reported commit 4ef9ad19e176 ("mm: huge_memory: don't force huge page alignment on 32 bit") didn't work for x86_32 [1]. It is because x86_32 uses CONFIG_X86_32 instead of CONFIG_32BIT. !CONFIG_64BIT should cover all 32 bit machines. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/linux-mm/CAHbLzkr1LwH3pcTgM+aGQ31ip2bKqiqEQ8=FQB+t2c3dhNKNHA@mail.gmail.com/

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel huge-page alignment correction failed on 32-bit x86 because it checked the wrong configuration symbol. On affected 32-bit kernels, a local low-privileged user may cause serious confidentiality loss or system disruption. Network exposure alone is insufficient; the supplied CVSS requires local access.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority maintenance issue for affected 32-bit Linux systems supporting multiple or untrusted local users. It does not warrant an internet-wide emergency response based on current evidence because exploitation requires local access. Confirmed 64-bit-only estates are lower priority for this specific condition, subject to vendor confirmation.

Technical view

The earlier correction used CONFIG_32BIT, which x86_32 does not define. The stable correction uses !CONFIG_64BIT to cover 32-bit architectures. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H). The sources do not describe the precise failure or exploitation primitive.

Likely exposure

Exposure is concentrated on affected 32-bit Linux kernel builds, particularly x86_32. The described configuration error does not apply to 64-bit machines. Kernel version strings alone are insufficient because stable branches and distributions may backport corrections; confirm architecture and vendor patch status.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. The CVSS assessment indicates low-complexity exploitation by a low-privileged local user without user interaction. Risk is therefore greater where untrusted users or processes can execute locally.

Researcher notes

The bundle provides no CWE, crash trace, reproducer, or exact vulnerability primitive. Its version data mixes commits and releases without a simple universal affected interval. Establish exposure through architecture, vendor backport records, and commit ancestry rather than comparing version strings alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify 32-bit Linux hosts and map running kernels to vendor advisories and the listed stable commits.
  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the !CONFIG_64BIT alignment correction.
  • Follow distribution guidance for activation, including any required restart into the corrected kernel.
  • If no update is available, consult the kernel or distribution vendor; the sources name no workaround.

Validation and detection

  • Record each system's running kernel architecture and release; prioritize systems where CONFIG_64BIT is disabled.
  • Check vendor changelogs or kernel commit ancestry for one of the listed stable corrections.
  • After maintenance, confirm the running kernel—not only the installed package—contains the correction.
  • Document vendor confirmation for systems classified unaffected, especially those relying on backports.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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.

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CVE-2024-42258 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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
6Source 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
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H1.85.2Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-42258Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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
LinuxLinux87632bc9ecff5ded93433bc0fca428019bdd1cfe, 6ea9aa8d97e6563676094cb35755884173269555, 4ef9ad19e17676b9ef071309bc62020e2373705d, 4ef9ad19e17676b9ef071309bc62020e2373705d, 7432376c913381c5f24d373a87ff629bbde94b47, 6.1.81, 6.7.6unaffected
LinuxLinux6.8, 0, 6.1.105, 6.10.3, 6.11affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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