Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel bug in the NXP FlexSPI driver. A small, unaligned write to SPI NOR flash can make the kernel read past the end of a buffer. The public record shows a kernel fix, but no CVSS score and no confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for embedded or appliance fleets that use NXP FlexSPI and SPI NOR flash. For ordinary Linux servers without this hardware path, urgency is lower. Because severity is not scored, use asset exposure rather than headline risk to drive scheduling.
Technical view
CVE-2024-46853 is a slab out-of-bounds read in nxp_fspi_exec_op when data written to TX FIFO is not 4-byte aligned. The fix changes the memcpy length. The reproduced failure was observed with KASAN on an NXP/Freescale i.MX8QM MEK system using SPI NOR/MTD paths.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears narrow: Linux systems using the NXP FSPI driver with SPI NOR/MTD flash, especially embedded NXP i.MX-style platforms. General-purpose servers are unlikely to be affected unless this hardware and driver path are present. Exact exposure depends on kernel version and vendor backports.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes a local write path that triggers a KASAN out-of-bounds read. It does not show remote reachability, privilege escalation, public exploit availability, or active exploitation. KEV status is false, so treat this as a targeted platform risk unless your fleet uses the affected driver.
Researcher notes
The public evidence is strongest for a KASAN-detected out-of-bounds read caused by non-4-byte-aligned data in the NXP FSPI TX FIFO path. The record does not establish exploitability beyond the demonstrated local crash/memory-safety condition. Verify fixes through kernel stable commits or downstream vendor patches.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a Linux kernel or vendor build containing the referenced stable fix.
- Check Debian LTS or device-vendor advisories for backported fixed packages.
- Prioritize embedded devices using NXP FSPI with SPI NOR flash.
- Restrict unnecessary local write access to MTD flash device nodes.
- Track vendor guidance where fixed package status is unclear.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems for NXP FSPI, SPI NOR, and MTD usage.
- Map deployed kernels against affected and fixed vendor versions.
- Review kernel configuration and device tree for nxp-fspi driver use.
- Confirm patched kernels include the memcpy length fix.
- Check Debian LTS advisory applicability for Debian-based systems.
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-2024-46853 mapping review
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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/aa05db44db5f409f6d91c27b5737efb49fb45d9fCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/609260542cf86b459c57618b8cdec8020394b7adCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/491f9646f7ac31af5fca71be1a3e5eb8aa7663adCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09af8b0ba70072be831f3ec459f4063d570f9e24CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/af9ca9ca3e44f48b2a191e100d452fbf850c3d87CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1a1dfcec77c57b1181da93d11a3db1bc4eefa97CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2a8787c1cdc7be24fdd8953ecd1a8743a1006235CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.htmlCVE reference, CVE
- 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.