Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2024-57801 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 3e45dd1622a2c1a83c11bf42fdd8c1810123d6c0, 47c78d3fc26e38ab805613a0f592dc8a820c7c64, 5a03b368562a7ff5f5f1f63b5adf8309cbdbd5be as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.22% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 3e45dd1622a2c1a83c11bf42fdd8c1810123d6c0 or 47c78d3fc26e38ab805613a0f592dc8a820c7c64 or 5a03b368562a7ff5f5f1f63b5adf8309cbdbd5be, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.6.70 or 6.12.9, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | d1569537a837d66620aa7ffc2bddf918e902f227 up to, but not including, 3e45dd1622a2c1a83c11bf42fdd8c1810123d6c0; d1569537a837d66620aa7ffc2bddf918e902f227 up to, but not including, 47c78d3fc26e38ab805613a0f592dc8a820c7c64; d1569537a837d66620aa7ffc2bddf918e902f227 up to, but not including, 5a03b368562a7ff5f5f1f63b5adf8309cbdbd5be; 6.6 | 3e45dd1622a2c1a83c11bf42fdd8c1810123d6c0, 47c78d3fc26e38ab805613a0f592dc8a820c7c64, 5a03b368562a7ff5f5f1f63b5adf8309cbdbd5be |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.6 up to, but not including, 6.6.70; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.12.9; 6.13 | 6.6.70, 6.12.9 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Skip restore TC rules for vport rep without loaded flag During driver unload, unregister_netdev is called after unloading vport rep. So, the mlx5e_rep_priv is already freed while trying to get rpriv->netdev, or walk rpriv->tc_ht, which results in use-after-free. So add the checking to make sure access the data of vport rep which is still loaded.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.