Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux kernel timing flaw can let RDMA connection-management work access memory after it has been freed. The supplied CVSS rating is 9.8, indicating potentially severe confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Actual risk depends on whether affected kernel code and RDMA IWCM functionality are present and reachable.
Executive priority
Treat remediation as urgent for affected systems using RDMA, especially those exposed to untrusted networks. Prioritize inventory and vendor package confirmation because the severity is critical, while recognizing that the supplied evidence does not establish active exploitation or universal exposure across Linux hosts.
Technical view
The flaw occurs when rdma_destroy_id() frees an iw_cm_id and its associated rdma_id_private while cm_work_handler() can still process pending work referencing that memory. The stable fix defers freeing rdma_id_private until pending work completes, preventing the use-after-free condition.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel builds where the RDMA IWCM path is available or used. The supplied version data includes multiple upstream and stable versions, but downstream distribution backports may differ. Exact exposure requires package-level verification with the relevant Linux distributor.
Exploitation context
The bundle reports no CISA KEV listing and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. The supplied CVSS vector describes a network-reachable, low-complexity attack requiring neither privileges nor user interaction, but demonstrated exploitability and environmental prerequisites are not documented here.
Researcher notes
This is a lifetime-synchronization defect involving conn_id, cm_id, rdma_destroy_id(), and asynchronous cm_work_handler() processing. Review the stable-branch commits for exact backport context. The bundle supplies no CWE, proof of concept, crash signature, exploitation telemetry, or detailed trigger prerequisites, limiting exploitability assessment.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the Linux or distribution kernel update containing the applicable stable fix.
- Follow distributor guidance to identify the corrected downstream kernel package.
- Reboot affected systems into the updated kernel after installation.
- If patching is delayed, seek vendor-supported guidance for limiting RDMA IWCM exposure.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel versions and distribution package builds across Linux systems.
- Identify systems with RDMA IWCM functionality available or actively used.
- Confirm each running kernel contains the relevant upstream fix or distributor backport.
- Verify systems booted into the updated kernel rather than merely installing it.
- Monitor vendor advisories for corrected package versions and revised exposure information.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2024-42285 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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/d91d253c87fd1efece521ff2612078a35af673c6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f25f296fc9bd0435be14e89bf657cd615a23574CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/94ee7ff99b87435ec63211f632918dc7f44dac79CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/557d035fe88d78dd51664f4dc0e1896c04c97cf6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dc8074b8901caabb97c2d353abd6b4e7fa5a59a5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ff5bbbdee08287d75d72e65b72a2b76d9637892aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee39384ee787e86e9db4efb843818ef0ea9cb8aeCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aee2424246f9f1dadc33faa78990c1e2eb7826e4CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.htmlCVE reference, CVE
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/10/msg00003.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.