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CVE Record

CVE-2024-50145: octeon_ep: Add SKB allocation failures handling in __octep_oq_process_rx()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: octeon_ep: Add SKB allocation failures handling in __octep_oq_process_rx() build_skb() returns NULL in case of a memory allocation failure so handle it inside __octep_oq_process_rx() to avoid NULL pointer dereference. __octep_oq_process_rx() is called during NAPI polling by the driver. If skb allocation fails, keep on pulling packets out of the Rx DMA queue: we shouldn't break the polling immediately and thus falsely indicate to the octep_napi_poll() that the Rx pressure is going down. As there is no associated skb in this case, don't process the packets and don't push them up the network stack - they are skipped. Helper function is implemented to unmmap/flush all the fragment buffers used by the dropped packet. 'alloc_failures' counter is incremented to mark the skb allocation error in driver statistics. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux network driver can crash the kernel if memory allocation fails while receiving packets. The impact is loss of availability, potentially requiring service recovery or reboot. Exposure is limited to systems using the octeon_ep driver, but affected network-facing systems warrant prompt review because the supplied CVSS score is 7.5.

Executive priority

Prioritize prompt remediation where octeon_ep supports production, internet-reachable, or high-availability workloads. Other Linux systems can be deprioritized after confirming the driver is absent or unused. Treat this primarily as an outage risk, not a confidentiality or data-integrity compromise.

Technical view

During NAPI receive polling, build_skb() can return NULL. The vulnerable __octep_oq_process_rx() path dereferences that result, causing a kernel NULL-pointer failure. The fix drops the affected packet, releases its fragment buffers, continues draining the receive DMA queue, and increments an allocation-failure statistic.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is concentrated on Linux systems actively using the octeon_ep network driver. Receiving traffic while memory allocation fails is the relevant condition. Merely running Linux does not establish exposure. The supplied version data is ambiguous, so confirm applicability against the distribution kernel and referenced stable fixes.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS vector treats the issue as remotely reachable without privileges or user interaction, with availability impact only. However, the bundle provides no evidence of public exploitation, and CVE-2024-50145 is not identified as a CISA KEV entry. Trigger reliability and practical attack conditions are not established.

Researcher notes

The finding originated from static analysis by the Linux Verification Center using SVACE. The supplied affected-version list contains duplicated commit identifiers and version markers that do not clearly express fixed boundaries. Researchers and vulnerability managers should use kernel commit ancestry and distribution advisories rather than interpreting that list literally.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify systems using the octeon_ep driver and prioritize network-facing or availability-critical hosts.
  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fix.
  • Consult distribution or appliance guidance to map patched package versions accurately.
  • Use normal maintenance controls and redundancy to reduce disruption during kernel updates.

Validation and detection

  • Record each host's running kernel, distribution package version, and octeon_ep driver usage.
  • Compare kernel provenance with the referenced stable commits or vendor advisory.
  • After updating, confirm the patched kernel is running and the network interface operates normally.
  • Monitor kernel logs, receive errors, packet drops, and allocation-failure statistics for abnormal behavior.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

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

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2024-50145 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
6Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

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
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Linux
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-50145Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux37d79d0596062057f588bdbb2ebad5455a43d353, 37d79d0596062057f588bdbb2ebad5455a43d353, 37d79d0596062057f588bdbb2ebad5455a43d353, 37d79d0596062057f588bdbb2ebad5455a43d353unaffected
LinuxLinux5.19, 0, 6.1.115, 6.6.59, 6.11.6, 6.12affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-476

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

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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