crypto: ecdh - explicitly zeroize private_key
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: ecdh - explicitly zeroize private_key private_key is overwritten with the key parameter passed in by the caller (if present), or alternatively a newly generated private key. However, it is possible that the caller provides a key (or the newly generated key) which is shorter than the previous key. In that scenario, some key material from the previous key would not be overwritten. The easiest solution is to explicitly zeroize the entire private_key array first. Note that this patch slightly changes the behavior of this function: previously, if the ecc_gen_privkey failed, the old private_key would remain. Now, the private_key is always zeroized. This behavior is consistent with the case where params.key is set and ecc_is_key_valid fails.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.8 and later | 5.15.162, 6.1.97, 6.6.37, 6.9.8, 6.10 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.8 and later Fixed in 5.15.162, 6.1.97, 6.6.37, 6.9.8, 6.10 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.15.162; 5.16 to before 6.1.97; 6.2 to before 6.6.37; 6.7 to before 6.9.8 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.15.162; 5.16 to before 6.1.97; 6.2 to before 6.6.37; 6.7 to before 6.9.8 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.162, 6.1.97, 6.6.37, 6.9.8, 6.10
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-42098
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4794-rjc7-hpw2
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39173b04abda87872b43c331468a4a14f8f05ce8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fd7ef325911eba1b7191b83cb580463242f2090d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/80575b252ab0358b7e93895b2a510beb3cb3f975
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d96187eb8e59b572a8e6a68b6a9837a867ea29df
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/73e5984e540a76a2ee1868b91590c922da8c24c9
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2024-42098 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-42098 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4794-rjc7-hpw2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2024-42098 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences