CVE-2024-56761

x86/fred: Clear WFE in missing-ENDBRANCH #CPs

Published Jan 6, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

x86/fred: Clear WFE in missing-ENDBRANCH #CPs

An indirect branch instruction sets the CPU indirect branch tracker
(IBT) into WAIT_FOR_ENDBRANCH (WFE) state and WFE stays asserted
across the instruction boundary. When the decoder finds an
inappropriate instruction while WFE is set ENDBR, the CPU raises a #CP
fault.

For the "kernel IBT no ENDBR" selftest where #CPs are deliberately
triggered, the WFE state of the interrupted context needs to be
cleared to let execution continue. Otherwise when the CPU resumes
from the instruction that just caused the previous #CP, another
missing-ENDBRANCH #CP is raised and the CPU enters a dead loop.

This is not a problem with IDT because it doesn't preserve WFE and
IRET doesn't set WFE. But FRED provides space on the entry stack
(in an expanded CS area) to save and restore the WFE state, thus the
WFE state is no longer clobbered, so software must clear it.

Clear WFE to avoid dead looping in ibt_clear_fred_wfe() and the
!ibt_fatal code path when execution is allowed to continue.

Clobbering WFE in any other circumstance is a security-relevant bug.

[ dhansen: changelog rewording ]

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2024-53404 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/fred: Clear WFE in missing-ENDBRANCH #CPs An indirect branch instruction sets the CPU indirect branch tracker (IBT) into WAIT_FOR_ENDBRANCH (WFE) state and WFE stays asserted across the instruction boundary. When the decoder finds an inappropriate instruction while WFE is set ENDBR, the CPU raises a #CP fault. For the "kernel IBT no ENDBR" selftest where #CPs are deliberately triggered, the WFE state of the interrupted context needs to be cleared to let execution continue. Otherwise when the CPU resumes from the instruction that just caused the previous #CP, another missing-ENDBRANCH #CP is raised and the CPU enters a dead loop. This is not a problem with IDT because it doesn't preserve WFE and IRET doesn't set WFE. But FRED provides space on the entry stack (in an expanded CS area) to save and restore the WFE state, thus the WFE state is no longer clobbered, so software must clear it. Clear WFE to avoid dead looping in ibt_clear_fred_wfe() and the !ibt_fatal code path when execution is allowed to continue. Clobbering WFE in any other circumstance is a security-relevant bug. [ dhansen: changelog rewording ]
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7379-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7379-2 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7380-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7381-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7382-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7513-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7513-2 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7513-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7513-4 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7513-5 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7514-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7515-1 Linux kernel (GKE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7515-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7522-1 Linux kernel (Azure, N-Series) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7523-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7524-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-693
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/fred: Clear WFE in missing-ENDBRANCH #CPs An indirect branch instruction sets the CPU indirect branch tracker (IBT) into WAIT_FOR_ENDBRANCH (WFE) state and WFE stays asserted across the instruction boundary. When the decoder finds an inappropriate instruction while WFE is set ENDBR, the CPU raises a #CP fault. For the "kernel IBT no ENDBR" selftest where #CPs are deliberately triggered, the WFE state of the interrupted context needs to be cleared to let execution continue. Otherwise when the CPU resumes from the instruction that just caused the previous #CP, another missing-ENDBRANCH #CP is raised and the CPU enters a dead loop. This is not a problem with IDT because it doesn't preserve WFE and IRET doesn't set WFE. But FRED provides space on the entry stack (in an expanded CS area) to save and restore the WFE state, thus the WFE state is no longer clobbered, so software must clear it. Clear WFE to avoid dead looping in ibt_clear_fred_wfe() and the !ibt_fatal code path when execution is allowed to continue. Clobbering WFE in any other circumstance is a security-relevant bug. [ dhansen: changelog rewording ]
Title x86/fred: Clear WFE in missing-ENDBRANCH #CPs
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 11, 2026, 8:58 PM
Reserved
Dec 29, 2024, 11:26 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Jan 6, 2025, 5:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 8:12 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jan 6, 2025, 12:00 AM