Cloudanix VulnDB

CVE-2024-53238

Medium · 5.5

CVSS

5.5

EPSS

0.2%

Published

Dec 27, 2024

CISA due date

—

Cloudanix analysis

Monitor only SSVC: Track

A flaw in how certain Bluetooth devices connect to older Linux systems can cause unexpected crashes when the device is unplugged during setup.

Exploitation
Physical Access
Attacker needs
Physical Access
Complexity
Moderate
Impact
Denial Of Service
Component
OS kernel
Class
Memory Corruption
Remediation
Upgrade
Effort
Medium
Patch risk
Low

What it actually does

NULL pointer dereference crash in Linux kernel Bluetooth btmtk driver when unexpected USB disconnect occurs before ISO data anchor initialization, triggered during usb_kill_anchored_urbs in btusb_mtk_release_iso_intf on MediaTek hardware.

Why it matters to the business

Kernel panics and system instability on affected older Ubuntu Linux systems using MediaTek Bluetooth USB devices, potentially causing downtime during device setup or disconnect events; low urgency given low EPSS, no KEV listing, and limited ecosystem prevalence in modern kernels.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with local or physical access triggers an unexpected Bluetooth USB disconnect during the MediaTek setup flow, causing the uninitialized anchor to lead to a NULL pointer crash in usb_kill_anchored_urbs; generic Linux kernel exploitation patterns noted in threat actor campaigns do not indicate targeted use here.

How to fix it

Upgrade to fixed kernel versions including linux 3.13.0-135.184 for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, 4.4.0-79.100 for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS variants, and 4.13.0-16.19 for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS; apply all available Ubuntu kernel updates for affected packages such as linux-aws, linux-azure, and linux-hwe.

How to confirm the fix worked

Verify running kernel version matches or exceeds listed fixed versions per package; reproduce or monitor for absence of the specific crash trace involving btusb_mtk_disconnect and usb_kill_anchored_urbs after updates.

Typical attack path

  1. Gain local or physical access to trigger USB events on MediaTek Bluetooth device
  2. Force unexpected BT USB disconnect during initialization setup flow
  3. Trigger NULL pointer dereference when btusb_mtk_release_iso_intf attempts to release uninitialized anchor
  4. Cause kernel panic via usb_kill_anchored_urbs

How to detect it

Search kernel logs and dmesg for call traces containing usb_kill_anchored_urbs, btusb_mtk_release_iso_intf, btusb_mtk_disconnect, and NULL pointer dereference patterns around Bluetooth USB disconnect events; correlate with threat actor mentions of Linux kernel resource issues.

  • usb_kill_anchored_urbs+0x60/0x168
  • btusb_mtk_release_iso_intf+0x2c/0xd8
  • btusb_mtk_disconnect+0x14/0x28
  • ffffff80c0f25588
  • NULL pointer crash during btusb_disconnect

What your security team should do

  • Prioritize kernel package updates on all affected Ubuntu 14.04/16.04/18.04 systems with MediaTek Bluetooth
  • Disable Bluetooth interfaces via modprobe blacklist if hardware is unused
  • Enable kernel panic logging and monitoring for usb/btusb call traces
  • Review EPSS trend and re-assess after 30 days for any score increase

The record

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: btmtk: adjust the position to init iso data anchor MediaTek iso data anchor init should be moved to where MediaTek claims iso data interface. If there is an unexpected BT usb disconnect during setup flow, it will cause a NULL pointer crash issue when releasing iso anchor since the anchor wasn't been init yet. Adjust the position to do iso data anchor init. [ 17.137991] pc : usb_kill_anchored_urbs+0x60/0x168 [ 17.137998] lr : usb_kill_anchored_urbs+0x44/0x168 [ 17.137999] sp : ffffffc0890cb5f0 [ 17.138000] x29: ffffffc0890cb5f0 x28: ffffff80bb6c2e80 [ 17.144081] gpio gpiochip0: registered chardev handle for 1 lines [ 17.148421] x27: 0000000000000000 [ 17.148422] x26: ffffffd301ff4298 x25: 0000000000000003 x24: 00000000000000f0 [ 17.148424] x23: 0000000000000000 x22: 00000000ffffffff x21: 0000000000000001 [ 17.148425] x20: ffffffffffffffd8 x19: ffffff80c0f25560 x18: 0000000000000000 [ 17.148427] x17: ffffffd33864e408 x16: ffffffd33808f7c8 x15: 0000000000200000 [ 17.232789] x14: e0cd73cf80ffffff x13: 50f2137c0a0338c9 x12: 0000000000000001 [ 17.239912] x11: 0000000080150011 x10: 0000000000000002 x9 : 0000000000000001 [ 17.247035] x8 : 0000000000000000 x7 : 0000000000008080 x6 : 8080000000000000 [ 17.254158] x5 : ffffffd33808ebc0 x4 : fffffffe033dcf20 x3 : 0000000080150011 [ 17.261281] x2 : ffffff8087a91400 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : ffffff80c0f25588 [ 17.268404] Call trace: [ 17.270841] usb_kill_anchored_urbs+0x60/0x168 [ 17.275274] btusb_mtk_release_iso_intf+0x2c/0xd8 [btusb (HASH:5afe 6)] [ 17.284226] btusb_mtk_disconnect+0x14/0x28 [btusb (HASH:5afe 6)] [ 17.292652] btusb_disconnect+0x70/0x140 [btusb (HASH:5afe 6)] [ 17.300818] usb_unbind_interface+0xc4/0x240 [ 17.305079] device_release_driver_internal+0x18c/0x258 [ 17.310296] device_release_driver+0x1c/0x30 [ 17.314557] bus_remove_device+0x140/0x160 [ 17.318643] device_del+0x1c0/0x330 [ 17.322121] usb_disable_device+0x80/0x180 [ 17.326207] usb_disconnect+0xec/0x300 [ 17.329948] hub_quiesce+0x80/0xd0 [ 17.333339] hub_disconnect+0x44/0x190 [ 17.337078] usb_unbind_interface+0xc4/0x240 [ 17.341337] device_release_driver_internal+0x18c/0x258 [ 17.346551] device_release_driver+0x1c/0x30 [ 17.350810] usb_driver_release_interface+0x70/0x88 [ 17.355677] proc_ioctl+0x13c/0x228 [ 17.359157] proc_ioctl_default+0x50/0x80 [ 17.363155] usbdev_ioctl+0x830/0xd08 [ 17.366808] __arm64_sys_ioctl+0x94/0xd0 [ 17.370723] invoke_syscall+0x6c/0xf8 [ 17.374377] el0_svc_common+0x84/0xe0 [ 17.378030] do_el0_svc+0x20/0x30 [ 17.381334] el0_svc+0x34/0x60 [ 17.384382] el0t_64_sync_handler+0x88/0xf0 [ 17.388554] el0t_64_sync+0x180/0x188 [ 17.392208] Code: f9400677 f100a2f4 54fffea0 d503201f (b8350288) [ 17.398289] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---

Affected packages

Ecosystem Package Introduced Fixed
Debian:13 linux 0 6.12.3-1
Linux Kernel 6.11.0 6.11.11
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS linux 0 3.11.0-12.19
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS linux-aws 0 4.4.0-1002.2
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS linux-azure 0 4.15.0-1023.24~14.04.1
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS linux-lts-xenial 0 4.4.0-13.29~14.04.1
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux 0 4.4.0-2.16
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-aws 0 4.4.0-1001.10
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-aws-hwe 0 4.15.0-1030.31~16.04.1
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-azure 0 4.11.0-1009.9
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 4.10.0-1004.4
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-hwe 0 4.8.0-39.42~16.04.1
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-hwe-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 4.4.0-1004.9
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 4.15.0-1007.9~16.04.1
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux 0 4.13.0-16.19
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-aws 0 4.15.0-1001.1
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-aws-5.0 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-aws-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-aws-5.4 0 5.4.0-1018.18~18.04.1
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure-4.15 0 4.15.0-1082.92
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure-5.4 0 5.4.0-1020.20~18.04.1
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gcp-4.15 0 4.15.0-1071.81
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.4 0 5.4.0-1019.19~18.04.2
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gke-4.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gke-5.4 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gkeop-5.4 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-hwe 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.4 0 5.4.0-37.41~18.04.1
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-hwe-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-ibm-5.4 0 5.4.0-1010.11~18.04.2
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 4.15.0-1002.2
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oem 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 4.15.0-1007.9
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.0 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.4 0 5.4.0-1019.19~18.04.1
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-raspi-5.4 0 5.4.0-1013.13~18.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux 0 5.4.0-9.12
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws 0 5.4.0-1005.5
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.15 0 5.15.0-1014.18~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure 0 5.4.0-1006.6
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.15 0 5.15.0-1007.8~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-fde 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-fde-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-bluefield 0 5.4.0-1007.10
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 5.4.0-1005.5
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.15 0 5.15.0-1006.9~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gke 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gke-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gkeop 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gkeop-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.15 0 5.15.0-33.34~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-ibm 0 5.4.0-1003.4
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-ibm-5.15 0 5.15.0-1033.36~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-intel-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-intel-iotg-5.15 0 5.15.0-1003.5~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-iot 0 5.4.0-1001.3
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 5.4.0-1004.4
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 0 5.15.0-33.34~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.10 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.14 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.6 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 5.4.0-1005.5
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.15 0 5.15.0-1007.9~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-raspi 0 5.4.0-1007.7
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-raspi2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.15 0 5.15.0-1015.17~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-xilinx-zynqmp 0 5.4.0-1020.24
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux 0 5.13.0-19.19
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-allwinner-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws 0 5.13.0-1005.6
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-6.8 0 6.8.0-1009.9~22.04.2
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure 0 5.13.0-1006.7
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-6.8 0 6.8.0-1008.8~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-fde 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-fde-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-fde-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 5.13.0-1005.6
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-6.8 0 6.8.0-1010.11~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gke 0 5.15.0-1002.2
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gkeop 0 5.15.0-1001.2
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-6.8 0 6.8.0-38.38~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-ibm 0 5.15.0-1002.2
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-intel-iot-realtime 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-intel-iot-realtime 0 5.15.0-1021.26
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-intel-iotg 0 5.15.0-1004.6
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 5.13.0-1004.4
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency 0 5.15.0-22.22
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 0 6.8.0-38.38.1~22.04.2
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia 0 5.15.0-1005.5
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-6.8 0 6.8.0-1008.8~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-5.17 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-6.0 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-6.1 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 5.13.0-1008.10
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle-6.8 0 6.8.0-1006.6~22.04.3
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-raspi 0 5.13.0-1008.9
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-realtime 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-riscv 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-riscv-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-riscv-6.8 0 6.8.0-38.38.1~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-starfive-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-starfive-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-starfive-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-xilinx-zynqmp 0 5.15.0-1022.26
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS:for:NVIDIA:BlueField linux-bluefield 0 5.15.0-1011.13
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux 0 6.5.0-9.9
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-aws 0 6.5.0-1008.8
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-azure 0 6.5.0-1007.7
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 6.5.0-1007.7
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-gke 0 6.8.0-1003.5
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-gkeop 0 6.8.0-1001.3
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-ibm 0 6.5.0-1009.9
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-lowlatency 0 6.5.0-9.9.1
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-nvidia 0 6.8.0-1007.7
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-nvidia-lowlatency 0 6.8.0-1009.9.1
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-oem-6.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-oem-6.11 0 6.11.0-1012.12
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-oem-6.8 0 6.8.0-1003.3
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 6.5.0-1010.10
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-raspi 0 6.5.0-1005.7
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-raspi-realtime 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-raspi-realtime 0 6.7.0-2001.1
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-realtime 0 6.8.0-1008.19
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS linux-riscv 0 6.5.0-9.9.1
Ubuntu:24.10 linux 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux 0 6.11.0-18.18
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-aws 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-aws 0 6.11.0-1009.10
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-azure 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-azure 0 6.11.0-1009.9
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-gcp 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-gcp 0 6.11.0-1009.9
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-lowlatency 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-lowlatency 0 6.11.0-1010.11
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-oracle 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-oracle 0 6.11.0-1011.12
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-raspi 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-raspi 0 6.11.0-1008.8
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-realtime 0 No fix
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-realtime 0 6.11.0-1005.5
Ubuntu:24.10 linux-riscv 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS linux-hwe-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-aws-5.0 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-aws-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-azure 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-azure-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-azure-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-gke-4.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-gke-5.4 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-gkeop-5.4 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-hwe 0 No fix
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS linux-hwe-edge 0 No fix

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