Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2024-3094 is a critical-severity Embedded Malicious Code (CWE-506) vulnerability in Tukaani Xz. Its CVSS base score is 10.0 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Embedded Payloads (T1027.009); ranked in the top 0.3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) and SC-44 (Detonation Chambers) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2024-3094 is a supply-chain compromise affecting the xz compression utilities, specifically versions 5.6.0 and later. Malicious code inserted into the upstream source tarballs uses layered obfuscation to extract a prebuilt object during the liblzma build process; the resulting modified library can then alter the behavior of any application dynamically linked against it.
An attacker who can induce a victim to build or consume the tainted tarballs obtains the ability to intercept and tamper with data handled by liblzma-linked processes. Because the backdoor is present in the shared library itself, exploitation requires no authentication or user interaction and can affect any downstream software that depends on the compromised component, yielding full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Red Hat and other vendors advise immediately avoiding xz 5.6.0 and 5.6.1, downgrading to an unaffected release such as 5.4.x, and rebuilding any packages that incorporated the tainted library; distribution-specific advisories and updated packages are referenced in the listed URLs.
The EPSS score has remained elevated near its peak of 0.8655, indicating sustained exploitation interest after disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-31700
Vulnerability Data
Malicious code was discovered in the upstream tarballs of xz, starting with version 5.6.0. Through a series of complex obfuscations, the liblzma build process extracts a prebuilt object file from a disguised test file existing in the source code, which…
more
is then used to modify specific functions in the liblzma code. This results in a modified liblzma library that can be used by any software linked against this library, intercepting and modifying the data interaction with this library.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
—
—
- 3 hardening rules · 2 OS baselines
—
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Developer testing and evaluation can discover embedded malicious code before release.
Detonation chambers can reveal embedded malicious code through controlled execution analysis.
Integrity verification tools directly detect unauthorized or malicious code insertions.
Tamper-resistance and detection mechanisms identify malicious code introduced via the supply chain.
Component authenticity requirements reduce the chance malicious code is embedded by developers or suppliers.
Component authenticity controls stop introduction of malicious or counterfeit code into the product.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Assessing authenticity and integrity before acquisition catches embedded malicious code.
Secure SDLC practices directly prevent introduction of malicious code during development.
Due diligence prior to supplier relationships helps avoid sources of embedded malicious code.
Supplier risk assessment reduces likelihood of receiving products containing malicious code.
Pre-acquisition assessment of critical suppliers mitigates risk of malicious code in procured software.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Requiring suppliers to furnish component lists, attestations, and cryptographic verification of delivered artefacts makes it harder for an attacker to embed hidden malicious code that would otherwise go undetected through the supply chain.
Checks that executed code has not been tampered with and monitoring for malware-associated activity reduce the likelihood that hidden malicious code remains active.
Banning unapproved or unknown software and requiring testing plus authorization reduces the chance that hidden malicious code will be introduced into production environments.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
- V-271452 OL 9 must use a Linux Security Module configured to enforce limits on system services. prevents CWE-506
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
- V-258078 RHEL 9 must use a Linux Security Module configured to enforce limits on system services. prevents CWE-506