CVE-2024-56788
NoneCVSS
—
EPSS
0.2%
Published
Jan 11, 2025
CISA due date
—
Cloudanix analysis
A flaw in how network data is handed between processing steps can silently drop some traffic and slowly use up memory until the software is updated.
- Exploitation
- Other
- Attacker needs
- Local User
- Complexity
- Moderate
- Impact
- Denial Of Service
- Component
- OS kernel
- Class
- Race Condition
- Remediation
- Upgrade
- Effort
- Medium
- Patch risk
- Low
What it actually does
Race condition in skb pointer management allows one thread to overwrite a valid tx skb pointer with NULL while another thread enqueues a new skb, leaving one skb unhandled and causing packet loss plus memory leak.
Why it matters to the business
Network packet drops and gradual memory exhaustion can degrade connectivity and stability on affected systems until patched, with added urgency for any high-traffic environments.
How an attack unfolds
An attacker sends crafted network traffic to trigger concurrent enqueuing and processing threads; the window allows the SPI handler to null both pointers after the network stack assigns a new skb, resulting in dropped frames and leaked memory.
How to fix it
Upgrade chromium-browser on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS to version 58.0.3029.81-0ubuntu0.14.04.1172 or later; apply kernel patches that add proper locking around waiting_tx_skb and ongoing_tx_skb pointer transitions.
How to confirm the fix worked
Confirm the updated package version is installed, review kernel source for mutex or spinlock protection around the two skb pointers, and test concurrent TX traffic to verify no skb is dropped.
Typical attack path
- Establish conditions for concurrent TX skb enqueue and SPI processing
- Force the waiting_tx_skb pointer to NULL while ongoing_tx_skb is being processed
- Allow the SPI thread to copy the NULL pointer without checks
- Enqueue a new skb from the network stack
- Trigger the overwrite of the waiting pointer with NULL
- Observe resulting unhandled skb and memory leak
How to detect it
Inspect system logs and network statistics for unexpected packet loss or skb allocation warnings; review kernel traces around oa_tc6 driver activity for signs of unhandled frames.
What your security team should do
- Apply the listed fixed package version immediately on all Ubuntu 14.04 systems running the affected driver
- Prioritize patching any systems handling production network traffic
- Monitor for unusual packet loss or memory growth until remediation is complete
The record
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ethernet: oa_tc6: fix tx skb race condition between reference pointers There are two skb pointers to manage tx skb's enqueued from n/w stack. waiting_tx_skb pointer points to the tx skb which needs to be processed and ongoing_tx_skb pointer points to the tx skb which is being processed. SPI thread prepares the tx data chunks from the tx skb pointed by the ongoing_tx_skb pointer. When the tx skb pointed by the ongoing_tx_skb is processed, the tx skb pointed by the waiting_tx_skb is assigned to ongoing_tx_skb and the waiting_tx_skb pointer is assigned with NULL. Whenever there is a new tx skb from n/w stack, it will be assigned to waiting_tx_skb pointer if it is NULL. Enqueuing and processing of a tx skb handled in two different threads. Consider a scenario where the SPI thread processed an ongoing_tx_skb and it moves next tx skb from waiting_tx_skb pointer to ongoing_tx_skb pointer without doing any NULL check. At this time, if the waiting_tx_skb pointer is NULL then ongoing_tx_skb pointer is also assigned with NULL. After that, if a new tx skb is assigned to waiting_tx_skb pointer by the n/w stack and there is a chance to overwrite the tx skb pointer with NULL in the SPI thread. Finally one of the tx skb will be left as unhandled, resulting packet missing and memory leak. - Consider the below scenario where the TXC reported from the previous transfer is 10 and ongoing_tx_skb holds an tx ethernet frame which can be transported in 20 TXCs and waiting_tx_skb is still NULL. tx_credits = 10; /* 21 are filled in the previous transfer */ ongoing_tx_skb = 20; waiting_tx_skb = NULL; /* Still NULL */ - So, (tc6->ongoing_tx_skb || tc6->waiting_tx_skb) becomes true. - After oa_tc6_prepare_spi_tx_buf_for_tx_skbs() ongoing_tx_skb = 10; waiting_tx_skb = NULL; /* Still NULL */ - Perform SPI transfer. - Process SPI rx buffer to get the TXC from footers. - Now let's assume previously filled 21 TXCs are freed so we are good to transport the next remaining 10 tx chunks from ongoing_tx_skb. tx_credits = 21; ongoing_tx_skb = 10; waiting_tx_skb = NULL; - So, (tc6->ongoing_tx_skb || tc6->waiting_tx_skb) becomes true again. - In the oa_tc6_prepare_spi_tx_buf_for_tx_skbs() ongoing_tx_skb = NULL; waiting_tx_skb = NULL; - Now the below bad case might happen, Thread1 (oa_tc6_start_xmit) Thread2 (oa_tc6_spi_thread_handler) --------------------------- ----------------------------------- - if waiting_tx_skb is NULL - if ongoing_tx_skb is NULL - ongoing_tx_skb = waiting_tx_skb - waiting_tx_skb = skb - waiting_tx_skb = NULL ... - ongoing_tx_skb = NULL - if waiting_tx_skb is NULL - waiting_tx_skb = skb To overcome the above issue, protect the moving of tx skb reference from waiting_tx_skb pointer to ongoing_tx_skb pointer and assigning new tx skb to waiting_tx_skb pointer, so that the other thread can't access the waiting_tx_skb pointer until the current thread completes moving the tx skb reference safely.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Introduced | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:13 | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Linux | Kernel | 6.12.0 | 6.12.7 |
| Ubuntu:16.04:LTS | linux-hwe-edge | 0 | No fix |
| 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-azure | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.3 | 0 | No fix |
| 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-5.3 | 0 | No fix |
| 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-edge | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | linux-oem | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | linux-oracle-5.0 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | linux-oracle-5.3 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-aws | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-azure | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-ibm-5.15 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-intel-5.13 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-iot | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-oracle-5.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| 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-azure-fde-6.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 0 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| 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 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS:for:NVIDIA:BlueField | linux-bluefield | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-aws | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gke | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-ibm | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-intel | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-xilinx | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-aws | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-azure | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-gcp | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-lowlatency | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-oracle | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-raspi | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-realtime | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:24.10 | linux-riscv | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:25.04 | linux-azure-fde | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Nvidia-BlueField:22.04:LTS | linux-bluefield | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS | linux-aws | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS | linux-azure | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-aws | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-azure | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-gcp | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-hwe | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-hwe-edge | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-kvm | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS | linux-oracle | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-aws | 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-aws-5.4 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-azure | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-azure-4.15 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.3 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.4 | 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-4.15 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.3 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.4 | 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-5.4 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | linux-hwe-edge | 0 | No fix |
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