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CVE Record

CVE-2024-49857: wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: set the cipher for secured NDP ranging

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: mvm: set the cipher for secured NDP ranging The cipher pointer is not set, but is derefereced trying to set its content, which leads to a NULL pointer dereference. Fix it by pointing to the cipher parameter before dereferencing.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A flaw in the Linux iwlwifi wireless driver can dereference an unset cipher pointer during secured NDP ranging. This can crash or disrupt an affected system. The CVSS assessment also assigns high integrity impact, although the supplied description does not explain how integrity compromise occurs.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue on systems using Intel iwlwifi functionality. Accelerate validation and patching where affected hardware and secured ranging are present. Broader emergency response is not supported because active exploitation is undocumented and the attack vector is local.

Technical view

CVE-2024-49857 affects iwlwifi MVM secured NDP ranging. Code attempts to write through a cipher pointer before assigning it, causing a NULL pointer dereference. The referenced kernel changes assign the pointer before use. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1: local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high integrity and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure requires a Linux system using the affected iwlwifi MVM code and reaching secured NDP ranging functionality. The bundle identifies affected Linux 6.11-era versions, but its flattened version boundaries are ambiguous. Validate the exact distribution kernel against the CVE record and referenced stable fixes.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes local, low-privilege exploitation without user interaction. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. The concrete documented outcome is a NULL pointer dereference; additional exploitation consequences are not demonstrated.

Researcher notes

The description establishes an unset pointer dereference and a direct pointer-assignment fix. It does not document a demonstrated integrity primitive, despite CVSS assigning high integrity impact. Exact affected-version interpretation is limited by the flattened bundle data; use the CVE record, distribution backport information, and stable commit ancestry for authoritative matching.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
  • Consult the Linux distribution advisory for corrected package versions and rollout guidance.
  • Prioritize systems using iwlwifi hardware or secured NDP ranging functionality.
  • Apply normal kernel-update restart requirements to activate the corrected driver code.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions and identify systems loading the iwlwifi MVM driver.
  • Compare deployed kernel source or package changelogs with the referenced stable fixes.
  • Review kernel logs and crash telemetry for iwlwifi-related NULL pointer dereferences.
  • After updating, confirm the corrected kernel is running and wireless functionality remains stable.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

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

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

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CVE-2024-49857 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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
3Source 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
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H1.85.2Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-49857Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux626be4bf99f6250cd66da5d311a72ad7455c5a64, 626be4bf99f6250cd66da5d311a72ad7455c5a64unaffected
LinuxLinux6.11, 0, 6.11.2, 6.12affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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