Linux Kernel HID Subsystem Memory Information Disclosure Vulnerability (CVE-2024-50302)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTAll Linux kernel-based systems utilizing HID (Human Interface Device) drivers
Local attackers can exploit uninitialized memory buffers to leak sensitive kernel memory contents via specially-crafted HID reports
Apply the latest stable kernel updates provided by your Linux distribution and reboot the system
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Update your Linux kernel to the latest stable release using the system package manager and perform a reboot to apply changes.
# For Ubuntu / Debian-based systems
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y linux-image-generic
# For RHEL / Rocky Linux / AlmaLinux systems
sudo dnf clean all && sudo dnf update -y kernel
# Reboot the system to load the patched kernel
sudo reboot2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching and rebooting are not feasible, restrict the loading of unnecessary virtual HID driver modules to reduce the attack surface.
# Blacklist the user-space HID (uhid) driver module
echo 'blacklist uhid' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/disable-uhid.conf
# Unload the uhid module if it is currently loaded and not in use
sudo rmmod uhid 2>/dev/null || true3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Verify the active kernel version and inspect system logs for anomalous HID device registrations or driver errors.
# Check the currently running kernel version
uname -r
# Audit system logs for suspicious HID or virtual HID activities
sudo dmesg | grep -Ei 'hid|uhid|uninitialized'Block Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2024-50302) is an information disclosure flaw residing within the Human Interface Device (HID) core subsystem of the Linux kernel. The root cause is the lack of zero-initialization when allocating the shared report buffer used by various HID drivers. This omission leads to an uninitialized memory usage condition (CWE-908), leaving residual data from previous kernel operations intact within the allocated buffer.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
The HID subsystem allocates report buffers to handle input/output data streams from physical or virtual devices. A local attacker with basic privileges can trigger this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HID reports or emulating a malicious HID device. When the driver processes these reports and copies the buffer contents back to user-space, the uninitialized segments of the buffer—which may contain sensitive kernel stack/heap data such as cryptographic keys or memory pointers—are exposed to the attacker.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
Although rated with a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium), this vulnerability is cataloged in the CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities) list, indicating active exploitation in the wild. Successful exploitation allows attackers to bypass critical kernel security mitigations like KASLR (Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization). This information disclosure serves as a high-value primitive for constructing reliable local privilege escalation (LPE) chains, posing a severe threat to multi-tenant and enterprise environments.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: HID: core: zero-initialize the report buffer Since the report buffer is used by all kinds of drivers in various ways, let's zero-initialize it during allocation to make sure that it can't be ever used to leak kernel memory via specially-crafted report.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2024-50302)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2024-50302 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2024-50302 is rated CVSS 5.5 (MEDIUM) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 0.8%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2024-50302?
Primary impacted vendors include linux across linux_kernel. Scope summary: Linux kernel mainline and stable branches (including 6.11.y, 6.10.y, 6.6.y, 6.1.y, 5.15.y, 5.10.y prior to the official patch integration)
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2024-50302 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply the latest stable kernel updates provided by your Linux distribution and reboot the system Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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