CVE-2024-35845

What it actually does

Missing NUL termination on iwl_fw_ini_debug_info_tlv buffer allows out-of-bounds read when the kernel treats the data as a C string, enabling memory corruption or information disclosure.

Why it matters to the business

Unpatched Linux systems with affected Intel WiFi hardware face elevated risk of remote compromise or denial of service, increasing operational downtime and data exposure potential across server and endpoint fleets.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker crafts a debug TLV lacking a terminating NUL byte and delivers it via the wireless interface or firmware loading path; the kernel then reads past the intended buffer while processing the string, triggering memory corruption that can be chained for code execution or data leaks.

How to fix it

Update the Linux kernel to the commit fabe2db7de32a881e437ee69db32e0de785a6209 or later stable versions that enforce NUL termination on the debug TLV buffer.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the presence of the fix commit in the running kernel source, verify the TLV handling routine now explicitly sets a terminating NUL, and test with crafted TLV payloads to ensure no out-of-bounds access occurs.

Typical attack path

1. Identify target systems running vulnerable iwlwifi drivers
2. Craft and transmit a debug TLV without NUL termination
3. Trigger TLV processing during WiFi initialization or debug handling
4. Exploit resulting out-of-bounds read for memory disclosure or corruption
5. Escalate to remote code execution or system instability

How to detect it

Inspect kernel logs for oops or slab-out-of-bounds messages during iwlwifi initialization; correlate with wireless interface activity and firmware debug TLV processing events.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize kernel upgrades to the fixed commit across all affected distributions within the next 30 days
• Monitor vendor advisories for backported patches in LTS kernels
• Enable kernel hardening features such as KASAN and strict string handling during testing
• Review wireless debug logging configurations to reduce TLV exposure surface