PoC Released for High-Severity Linux Kernel Vulnerability (CVE-2024-53104)

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit has been released for CVE-2024-53104, a high-severity out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the Linux kernel’s USB Video Class (UVC) driver. This flaw can lead to privilege escalation and system instability.

Vulnerability Details

The issue arises in the uvc_parse_format function, where improper parsing of UVC_VS_UNDEFINED frames leads to incorrect buffer size calculations, causing out-of-bounds memory writes.

Attackers can exploit this flaw by inserting malicious USB devices or manipulating video streams to trigger buffer overflows, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions.

Technical Breakdown

The vulnerability is rooted in the uvc_parse_format function of the UVC driver (uvc_driver.c). The affected code contained a while loop that parsed frame descriptors without properly validating the frame type. Specifically, it failed to check if ftype was non-zero, allowing it to process malformed UVC_VS_UNDEFINED (0) frames.

This led to incorrect buffer allocations in uvc_parse_streaming, increasing the risk of memory corruption and out-of-bounds writes.

The patch addresses this by modifying the while loop condition to ensure ftype is non-zero before parsing, preventing unintended processing of undefined frame types and mitigating the vulnerability.

Mitigation Measures

• The vulnerability carries a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating high severity.
• Google has released patches for affected versions in its Android OS.
• CISA has added CVE-2024-53104 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list, requiring federal agencies to apply patches within three weeks.
• Users should update their Linux systems with the latest security patches from their distribution maintainers.

The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions 2.6.26 and later. Applying the patch mitigates the risk of exploitation.

For long-term security, organizations should adopt a multi-layered defense approach, including:

• Reviewing USB device usage policies
• Deploying monitoring tools to detect suspicious USB activity
• Keeping all security patches up to date

Ensuring timely updates and strong security policies will help protect against potential exploitation of this vulnerability.