Published on: 2025-04-10

Intelligence Report: US CISA adds Linux Kernel flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog – Securityaffairs.com

1. BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has identified and added two critical Linux Kernel vulnerabilities, CVE-2024-53197 and CVE-2024-53150, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Both vulnerabilities, with a CVSS score of 7.8, pose significant risks of memory corruption and system instability. Immediate remediation is required by federal agencies, with a compliance deadline set for April 30, 2025. Private organizations are also advised to address these vulnerabilities to safeguard their networks.

2. Detailed Analysis

The following structured analytic techniques have been applied for this analysis:

General Analysis

The vulnerabilities CVE-2024-53197 and CVE-2024-53150 are found in the Linux kernel’s ALSA USB-audio driver. CVE-2024-53197 involves incorrect handling of USB configuration data, leading to potential out-of-bounds memory access. CVE-2024-53150 pertains to the failure to validate the bLength field in USB audio clock descriptors, allowing out-of-bounds reads. Both vulnerabilities could be exploited by malicious USB devices, posing risks of system compromise. The directive BOD 22-01 mandates federal agencies to address these vulnerabilities promptly.

3. Implications and Strategic Risks

The exploitation of these vulnerabilities could lead to significant national security risks, including unauthorized access to sensitive systems and potential data breaches. The vulnerabilities also threaten regional stability by potentially disrupting critical infrastructure reliant on Linux systems. Economically, organizations face increased costs related to system downtime, data loss, and remediation efforts.

4. Recommendations and Outlook

Recommendations:

• Federal agencies should prioritize patching the identified vulnerabilities by the April 30, 2025 deadline.
• Private organizations are advised to review and update their systems to mitigate these vulnerabilities.
• Implement enhanced monitoring and incident response protocols to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.

Outlook:

Best-case scenario: All affected systems are patched promptly, minimizing exploitation risks and ensuring system integrity.

Worst-case scenario: Delays in remediation lead to widespread exploitation, resulting in significant data breaches and system disruptions.

Most likely outcome: Compliance with CISA directives will mitigate most risks, though some exploitation attempts may occur before full remediation is achieved.

5. Key Individuals and Entities

The report does not mention specific individuals but highlights the involvement of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and its directives. The vulnerabilities impact entities using Linux systems, particularly those with ALSA USB-audio drivers.