Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux kernel HFS filesystem flaw leaves several inode fields uninitialized. When an affected system processes HFS filesystem operations, stale memory values may influence kernel behavior. The supplied CVSS assessment rates potential confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact as high, although the sources do not document a demonstrated attack.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on multi-user systems and hosts that process untrusted HFS media. Treat internet-facing status alone as a poor exposure indicator because the supplied vector requires local access. Patch through normal emergency or high-severity kernel maintenance, accelerated where HFS is actively used.
Technical view
hfs_alloc_inode() failed to initialize tz_secondswest, cached_start, and cached_blocks in hfs_inode_info. KMSAN detected uninitialized-value reads during HFS dentry revalidation and extent/block processing. Upstream stable commits initialize these fields. The supplied assessment is CVSS 3.1 7.8: local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running an affected kernel and exercising HFS filesystem functionality. Systems that mount HFS volumes, including potentially untrusted removable or disk images, deserve priority. The supplied version data spans multiple kernel branches but is not sufficient to determine every distribution's backport status.
Exploitation context
The source bundle marks this CVE as absent from CISA KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public weaponized exploit. Syzbot discovered the issue through kernel testing. Exploitation feasibility and exact practical impact are not established by the supplied evidence.
Researcher notes
The observed defect is an uninitialized kernel-structure read affecting multiple HFS code paths. No CWE is supplied. The CVSS claims high confidentiality, integrity, and availability consequences, but the bundle does not establish the failure mode, exploit primitive, or reproducible security outcome beyond KMSAN findings. Confirm branch-specific fixes from upstream commits or distribution backports.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor kernel containing the applicable upstream fix or backport.
- Consult the Linux distribution's advisory to determine the corrected package version.
- Until patched, minimize mounting or processing untrusted HFS volumes.
- Reboot into the updated kernel after installation, following vendor guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel versions on systems supporting or using HFS.
- Check distribution advisories for CVE-2024-42311 and confirmed backport status.
- Verify the running kernel changed after patching and rebooting.
- Review operational records for HFS mounts, removable media, and disk-image workflows.
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-2024-42311 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
- 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
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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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/f7316b2b2f11cf0c6de917beee8d3de728be24dbCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4a52861cd76e79f1a593beb23d096523eb9732c2CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10f7163bfb5f8b4e0c9c05a939f20b8540e33c65CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d55aae5c1730d6b70d5d8eaff00113cd34772ea3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58d83fc160505a7009c39dec64effaac5129b971CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c4e40b9b731220f9464975e49da75496e3865c4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d3493d6f0dfb1ab5225b62faa77732983f2187a1CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/26a2ed107929a855155429b11e1293b83e6b2a8bCVE 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.