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CVE Record

CVE-2024-43864: net/mlx5e: Fix CT entry update leaks of modify header context

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Fix CT entry update leaks of modify header context The cited commit allocates a new modify header to replace the old one when updating CT entry. But if failed to allocate a new one, eg. exceed the max number firmware can support, modify header will be an error pointer that will trigger a panic when deallocating it. And the old modify header point is copied to old attr. When the old attr is freed, the old modify header is lost. Fix it by restoring the old attr to attr when failed to allocate a new modify header context. So when the CT entry is freed, the right modify header context will be freed. And the panic of accessing error pointer is also fixed.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux networking driver flaw can crash the kernel and leak a hardware modification-header resource when updating a connection-tracking entry fails. A crash could interrupt network services or an entire host. The supplied rating is critical, but the public description does not establish how an attacker could force the failure or obtain confidentiality or integrity impact.

Executive priority

Treat as an urgent availability risk for exposed mlx5e-based infrastructure, particularly critical network hosts. Validate applicability before emergency changes because the affected-version information is unclear. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation, but kernel panic potential supports prompt vendor-guided patching.

Technical view

In net/mlx5e, a failed replacement modify-header allocation leaves an error pointer while copying the previous pointer into an old attribute. Cleanup can dereference the error pointer and panic; freeing the old attribute also loses the valid context. The fix restores the old attribute on allocation failure, allowing correct later cleanup.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible on Linux systems using the mlx5e driver and the affected connection-tracking entry update path, especially where firmware modification-header capacity can be exhausted. The supplied affected-version data names Linux 6.3, 6.6.45, 6.10.4, and 6.11 but is ambiguous, so distribution-specific mapping is required.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS 3.1 vector rates this 9.8 and network-accessible without authentication or user interaction. However, the technical description only demonstrates resource leakage and a kernel panic after allocation failure. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit.

Researcher notes

The documented trigger is failure to allocate a replacement modify-header context, including firmware-capacity exhaustion. The resulting cleanup flaw combines an error-pointer panic with loss of the prior context. The sources do not establish attacker control, reliable remote triggering, privilege escalation, data disclosure, or data modification despite the supplied CVSS impacts.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify systems using the mlx5e driver and connection-tracking functionality.
  • Consult Linux distribution advisories to map installed kernels to the referenced fixes.
  • Upgrade to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable stable fix.
  • Prioritize network-critical hosts where a kernel panic would cause material disruption.

Validation and detection

  • Record kernel and distribution package versions on potentially exposed systems.
  • Confirm whether mlx5e hardware and the affected connection-tracking path are in use.
  • Verify the installed kernel includes the applicable referenced stable commit or vendor backport.
  • Review kernel logs for mlx5e failures, allocation errors, or unexplained panics.
  • Confirm normal resource cleanup and stability after remediation using safe operational testing.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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-2024-43864 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

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
1ADP providers
4Source 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
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-43864Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux94ceffb48eac7692677d8093dcde6965b70c4b35, 94ceffb48eac7692677d8093dcde6965b70c4b35, 94ceffb48eac7692677d8093dcde6965b70c4b35unaffected
LinuxLinux6.3, 0, 6.6.45, 6.10.4, 6.11affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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