📄 Description (English)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ntb: ntb_hw_switchtec: Fix array-index-out-of-bounds access
Number of MW LUTs depends on NTB configuration and can be set to MAX_MWS,
This patch protects against invalid index out of bounds access to mw_sizes
When invalid access print message to user that configuration is not valid.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-43241 is a high-severity array index out-of-bounds vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NTB Switchtec driver that could allow local attackers to read or write kernel memory. The vulnerability exists in the memory window (MW) LUT configuration handling where invalid indices can access the mw_sizes array without proper bounds checking. This affects systems using NTB (Non-Transparent Bridge) hardware, particularly in high-performance computing and data center environments common in Saudi Arabia.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 11, 2026 19:01
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi organizations operating high-performance computing infrastructure, data centers, and research institutions. Government entities (NCA, ARAMCO, KAUST) and financial institutions (SAMA-regulated banks) utilizing NTB-based interconnect technologies for server clustering and data replication are at elevated risk. Telecom operators (STC, Mobily) managing large-scale data center operations may also be affected. The vulnerability allows local privilege escalation and kernel memory corruption, potentially compromising system integrity and enabling lateral movement within critical infrastructure.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government (NCA, ARAMCO, KAUST)
Banking and Financial Services (SAMA-regulated institutions)
Telecommunications (STC, Mobily, Zain)
Data Centers and Cloud Infrastructure
Research and Academic Institutions
Energy Sector (ARAMCO, SEC)
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify systems running affected Linux kernel versions with NTB Switchtec driver enabled
2. Check kernel configuration: grep -i CONFIG_NTB_SWITCHTEC /boot/config-$(uname -r)
3. Isolate affected systems from production if NTB hardware is actively used
Patching Guidance:
1. Apply latest Linux kernel security patches from your distribution (RHEL, Ubuntu, SLES)
2. For RHEL: yum update kernel && reboot
3. For Ubuntu: apt update && apt upgrade linux-image-generic && reboot
4. Verify patch application: uname -r should show updated kernel version
Compensating Controls (if immediate patching unavailable):
1. Disable NTB Switchtec driver if not required: echo 'blacklist ntb_switchtec' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
2. Restrict local access via SSH key-based authentication and disable password login
3. Implement AppArmor/SELinux profiles to restrict kernel module access
4. Monitor system logs for NTB-related errors: journalctl -u kernel | grep -i ntb
Detection Rules:
1. Monitor for kernel oops/panic messages containing 'ntb_switchtec' or 'mw_sizes'
2. Track failed NTB device initialization attempts in dmesg
3. Alert on unexpected kernel memory access patterns via auditd: auditctl -w /sys/kernel/debug/ntb -p wa
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل إصدارات نواة Linux المتأثرة مع تفعيل برنامج تشغيل NTB Switchtec
2. التحقق من تكوين النواة: grep -i CONFIG_NTB_SWITCHTEC /boot/config-$(uname -r)
3. عزل الأنظمة المتأثرة عن الإنتاج إذا كان جهاز NTB قيد الاستخدام النشط
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تطبيق أحدث تصحيحات أمان نواة Linux من توزيعتك (RHEL, Ubuntu, SLES)
2. لـ RHEL: yum update kernel && reboot
3. لـ Ubuntu: apt update && apt upgrade linux-image-generic && reboot
4. التحقق من تطبيق التصحيح: uname -r يجب أن يظهر إصدار النواة المحدث
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري متاحاً):
1. تعطيل برنامج تشغيل NTB Switchtec إذا لم يكن مطلوباً: echo 'blacklist ntb_switchtec' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي عبر المصادقة القائمة على مفاتيح SSH وتعطيل تسجيل الدخول بكلمة المرور
3. تطبيق ملفات تعريف AppArmor/SELinux لتقييد وصول وحدة النواة
4. مراقبة سجلات النظام للأخطاء المتعلقة بـ NTB: journalctl -u kernel | grep -i ntb
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة رسائل kernel oops/panic التي تحتوي على 'ntb_switchtec' أو 'mw_sizes'
2. تتبع محاولات تهيئة جهاز NTB الفاشلة في dmesg
3. التنبيه على أنماط وصول ذاكرة النواة غير المتوقعة عبر auditd: auditctl -w /sys/kernel/debug/ntb -p wa
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 - 5.1.1: System Hardening and Patch Management
ECC 2024 - 5.2.1: Vulnerability Management
ECC 2024 - 5.3.2: Access Control and Privilege Management
ECC 2024 - 6.1.1: Security Monitoring and Incident Detection
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF - ID.RA-1: Asset Management and Vulnerability Identification
SAMA CSF - PR.IP-12: System and Information Integrity
SAMA CSF - DE.CM-1: Detection and Analysis
SAMA CSF - RS.MI-1: Incident Response and Recovery
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 - A.12.6.1: Management of technical vulnerabilities
ISO 27001:2022 - A.14.2.1: Secure development policy
ISO 27001:2022 - A.12.2.1: Configuration management
ISO 27001:2022 - A.12.3.1: Change management
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 4.0 - 6.2: Security patches and updates
PCI DSS 4.0 - 6.3.1: Vulnerability scanning and remediation
🔗 References & Sources 8
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0e930420945106151c6eb3d7837b4e6154e9b144
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2346856b74823a2a78109002e479a3d02526a9ce
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/348e1ac9ad983ed7e62de14e1daf47f1695a4ce9
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47ce292dd45dc689747c40603222691638919189
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/740945de896021b9a859e71f38f6aea72a6393cf
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/85c9daa1f8319bbb3dfee71dc6a2f969cd3b4c92
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8ba7ad2cc1c7b90570aa347b8ebbe279f1eface
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
🔗
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee02c4f980c91820845dd8e469ec7dc670ab6d9d
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
📦 Affected Products / CPE 7 entries
linux:linux_kernel
linux:linux_kernel
linux:linux_kernel
linux:linux_kernel
linux:linux_kernel
linux:linux_kernel
linux:linux_kernel