Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-46716 is a Linux kernel bug in the Altera mSGDMA DMA driver cleanup path. The public record says descriptors were not freed correctly because list nodes were handled in the wrong function. Business urgency depends on whether affected kernels and this driver are present; public sources do not provide CVSS, impact detail, or active exploitation evidence.
Executive priority
Handle as a kernel maintenance item with uncertain severity. Patch during the next appropriate kernel update window, but accelerate for systems using Altera mSGDMA-capable hardware or Debian LTS kernels covered by the advisory. There is no provided evidence of active exploitation.
Technical view
The fix removes list deletion from msgdma_chan_desc_cleanup and moves list handling into msgdma_free_descriptor, replacing list_add_tail with list_move_tail. The affected path is msgdma_free_chan_resources to msgdma_free_descriptors to msgdma_free_desc_list to msgdma_free_descriptor, where first list nodes were not removed correctly.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is Linux systems running affected kernel ranges with the altera-msgdma dmaengine driver included or used. The source bundle lists Linux kernels around 4.14 through fixed stable releases, but does not identify appliances, distributions beyond Debian LTS, or default exploitability.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV, and the provided sources do not report exploitation, proof-of-concept activity, or remote attack conditions. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed. The available evidence describes a kernel resource cleanup defect, not an externally reachable service flaw.
Researcher notes
The public record is sparse: no CVSS, CWE, concrete impact, or exploit preconditions are provided. Analysis should focus on the altera-msgdma descriptor lifecycle, whether affected code is reachable on deployed hardware, and whether downstream kernels have backported the stable fix.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Review Debian LTS or your distribution's kernel advisory for packaged updates.
- Prioritize hosts that use Altera mSGDMA or FPGA DMA functionality.
- If updates are unavailable, follow vendor guidance for reducing driver exposure.
- Track the CVE record for any later severity or impact clarification.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions against the CVE affected and fixed ranges.
- Check whether the altera-msgdma driver is built, loaded, or required.
- Confirm installed kernel packages include the referenced stable commits or distro backports.
- Review distribution advisories for matching package versions and reboot requirements.
- Document systems where exposure is unknown because hardware or driver use is unclear.
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-2024-46716 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
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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
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/a3480e59fdbe5585d2d1eff0bed7671583acf725CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/20bf2920a869f9dbda0ef8c94c87d1901a64a716CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db67686676c7becc1910bf1d6d51505876821863CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/54e4ada1a4206f878e345ae01cf37347d803d1b1CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.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.