Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2024-57995 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 57100b87c77818cb0d582a92e5cb32fff85c757d, f3a95a312419e4f1e992525917da9dbcd247038f, 5a10971c7645a95f5d5dc23c26fbac4bf61801d0 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 0.36% 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 57100b87c77818cb0d582a92e5cb32fff85c757d or f3a95a312419e4f1e992525917da9dbcd247038f or 5a10971c7645a95f5d5dc23c26fbac4bf61801d0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.13.2 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | b5068bc9180d06a5ac242b0f9263047c14f86211 up to, but not including, 57100b87c77818cb0d582a92e5cb32fff85c757d; b5068bc9180d06a5ac242b0f9263047c14f86211 up to, but not including, f3a95a312419e4f1e992525917da9dbcd247038f; b5068bc9180d06a5ac242b0f9263047c14f86211 up to, but not including, 5a10971c7645a95f5d5dc23c26fbac4bf61801d0; 6.10 | 57100b87c77818cb0d582a92e5cb32fff85c757d, f3a95a312419e4f1e992525917da9dbcd247038f, 5a10971c7645a95f5d5dc23c26fbac4bf61801d0 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.10 up to, but not including, 6.13.2 | 6.13.2 |
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 | 8.8 | High | CNA |
| 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: wifi: ath12k: fix read pointer after free in ath12k_mac_assign_vif_to_vdev() In ath12k_mac_assign_vif_to_vdev(), if arvif is created on a different radio, it gets deleted from that radio through a call to ath12k_mac_unassign_link_vif(). This action frees the arvif pointer. Subsequently, there is a check involving arvif, which will result in a read-after-free scenario. Fix this by moving this check after arvif is again assigned via call to ath12k_mac_assign_link_vif(). Tested-on: QCN9274 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.WBE.1.3.1-00173-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1
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
Other references
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
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