CVE-2026-24153: NVIDIA Jetson Linux Info Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2026-24153 Overview

CVE-2026-24153 is an information disclosure vulnerability in NVIDIA Jetson Linux affecting the initial RAM disk (initrd) configuration. The vulnerability exists because the nvluks trusted application is not properly disabled, potentially allowing attackers with physical access to extract sensitive information from the device.

Critical Impact

Physical attackers may exploit this vulnerability to access confidential data protected by disk encryption, potentially compromising the security of embedded systems and IoT deployments using NVIDIA Jetson platforms.

Affected Products

• NVIDIA Jetson Linux (affected versions per vendor advisory)
• NVIDIA Jetson embedded systems with nvluks trusted application enabled in initrd

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-31 - CVE CVE-2026-24153 published to NVD
• 2026-04-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24153

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-501 (Trust Boundary Violation), indicating an issue where the application fails to properly enforce trust boundaries between different security domains. The nvluks trusted application, which is typically used for LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) disk encryption operations in a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), remains active in the initrd when it should be disabled for certain deployment configurations.

The physical attack vector means an adversary requires direct physical access to the target device. Once physical access is obtained, the attacker may be able to interact with the nvluks trusted application during the boot process. This could potentially lead to the disclosure of encryption keys or other sensitive cryptographic material stored or processed by the trusted application.

The scope change indicator in the vulnerability assessment suggests that a successful exploit could affect resources beyond the vulnerable component's security boundary, meaning data protected by the encryption system could be compromised.

Root Cause

The root cause is a Trust Boundary Violation (CWE-501) where the nvluks trusted application is not disabled in the initrd configuration. This creates a scenario where the trusted application remains accessible when it should be restricted, potentially exposing sensitive cryptographic operations or key material to unauthorized access through physical attack vectors.

Attack Vector

The attack requires physical access to the NVIDIA Jetson device. An attacker with physical access could potentially:

1. Boot the device and interact with the nvluks trusted application during the initialization phase
2. Leverage the exposed trusted application interface to query or extract sensitive information
3. Bypass disk encryption protections by accessing cryptographic keys or metadata through the trusted application

Since no verified code examples are available for this vulnerability, technical exploitation details should be obtained from the NVIDIA Support Response advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24153

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected access attempts to the nvluks trusted application during boot
• Signs of physical tampering with Jetson devices or enclosures
• Unauthorized boot sequence modifications or initrd changes
• Anomalous TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) activity logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor boot logs for unexpected nvluks trusted application initialization
• Implement physical security monitoring for Jetson device deployments
• Audit initrd configuration to verify nvluks is properly disabled where required
• Review secure boot and TEE integrity verification mechanisms

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging for trusted application interactions
• Implement physical access detection systems for edge deployments
• Configure alerts for boot sequence anomalies on Jetson devices
• Regularly audit firmware and initrd configurations against known-good baselines

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24153

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the NVIDIA Support Response for specific patch and mitigation guidance
• Audit all NVIDIA Jetson deployments to identify vulnerable configurations
• Implement enhanced physical security controls for exposed Jetson devices
• Verify initrd configuration to ensure nvluks is disabled where not required

Patch Information

NVIDIA has released security guidance for this vulnerability. System administrators should consult the NVIDIA Support Response for official patch information and updated Jetson Linux images that address this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Disable the nvluks trusted application in the initrd configuration if not required for your deployment
• Implement physical security controls to restrict unauthorized access to Jetson devices
• Use secure boot mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modifications to the boot chain
• Consider deploying devices in tamper-evident enclosures for sensitive applications

The specific configuration to disable nvluks in the initrd should be obtained from the official NVIDIA security advisory, as improper modification of the initrd could affect system functionality.