CVE-2024-26961

CVE-2024-26961 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.

Key facts

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mac802154: fix llsec key resources release in mac802154_llsec_key_del mac802154_llsec_key_del() can free resources of a key directly without following the RCU rules for waiting before the end of a grace period. This may lead to use-after-free in case llsec_lookup_key() is traversing the list of keys in parallel with a key deletion: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 16000 at lib/refcount.c:25 refcount_warn_saturate+0x162/0x2a0 Modules linked in: CPU: 4 PID: 16000 Comm: wpan-ping Not tainted 6.7.0 #19 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.2-debian-1.16.2-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0x162/0x2a0 Call Trace: <TASK> llsec_lookup_key.isra.0+0x890/0x9e0 mac802154_llsec_encrypt+0x30c/0x9c0 ieee802154_subif_start_xmit+0x24/0x1e0 dev_hard_start_xmit+0x13e/0x690 sch_direct_xmit+0x2ae/0xbc0 __dev_queue_xmit+0x11dd/0x3c20 dgram_sendmsg+0x90b/0xd60 __sys_sendto+0x466/0x4c0 __x64_sys_sendto+0xe0/0x1c0 do_syscall_64+0x45/0xf0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x76 Also, ieee802154_llsec_key_entry structures are not freed by mac802154_llsec_key_del(): unreferenced object 0xffff8880613b6980 (size 64): comm "iwpan", pid 2176, jiffies 4294761134 (age 60.475s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 78 0d 8f 18 80 88 ff ff 22 01 00 00 00 00 ad de x......."....... 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 cd ab 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace: [<ffffffff81dcfa62>] __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x1e2/0x2d0 [<ffffffff81c43865>] kmalloc_trace+0x25/0xc0 [<ffffffff88968b09>] mac802154_llsec_key_add+0xac9/0xcf0 [<ffffffff8896e41a>] ieee802154_add_llsec_key+0x5a/0x80 [<ffffffff8892adc6>] nl802154_add_llsec_key+0x426/0x5b0 [<ffffffff86ff293e>] genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0x1fe/0x2f0 [<ffffffff86ff46d1>] genl_rcv_msg+0x531/0x7d0 [<ffffffff86fee7a9>] netlink_rcv_skb+0x169/0x440 [<ffffffff86ff1d88>] genl_rcv+0x28/0x40 [<ffffffff86fec15c>] netlink_unicast+0x53c/0x820 [<ffffffff86fecd8b>] netlink_sendmsg+0x93b/0xe60 [<ffffffff86b91b35>] ____sys_sendmsg+0xac5/0xca0 [<ffffffff86b9c3dd>] ___sys_sendmsg+0x11d/0x1c0 [<ffffffff86b9c65a>] __sys_sendmsg+0xfa/0x1d0 [<ffffffff88eadbf5>] do_syscall_64+0x45/0xf0 [<ffffffff890000ea>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x76 Handle the proper resource release in the RCU callback function mac802154_llsec_key_del_rcu(). Note that if llsec_lookup_key() finds a key, it gets a refcount via llsec_key_get() and locally copies key id from key_entry (which is a list element). So it's safe to call llsec_key_put() and free the list entry after the RCU grace period elapses. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org).

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-26961?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mac802154: fix llsec key resources release in mac802154_llsec_key_del mac802154_llsec_key_del() can free resources of a key directly without following the RCU rules for waiting before the end of a grace period. This may lead to use-after-free in case llsec_lookup_key() is traversing the list of keys in parallel with a key deletion: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 16000 at lib/refcount.c:25 refcount_warn_saturate+0x162/0x2a0 Modules linked in: CPU: 4 PID: 16000 Comm: wpan-ping Not tainted 6.7.0 #19 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.2-debian-1.16.2-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0x162/0x2a0 Call Trace: <TASK> llsec_lookup_key.isra.0+0x890/0x9e0 mac802154_llsec_encrypt+0x30c/0x9c0 ieee802154_subif_start_xmit+0x24/0x1e0 dev_hard_start_xmit+0x13e/0x690 sch_direct_xmit+0x2ae/0xbc0 __dev_queue_xmit+0x11dd/0x3c20 dgram_sendmsg+0x90b/0xd60 __sys_sendto+0x466/0x4c0 __x64_sys_sendto+0xe0/0x1c0 do_syscall_64+0x45/0xf0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x76 Also, ieee802154_llsec_key_entry structures are not freed by mac802154_llsec_key_del(): unreferenced object 0xffff8880613b6980 (size 64): comm "iwpan", pid 2176, jiffies 4294761134 (age 60.475s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 78 0d 8f 18 80 88 ff ff 22 01 00 00 00 00 ad de x......."....... 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 cd ab 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace: [<ffffffff81dcfa62>] __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x1e2/0x2d0 [<ffffffff81c43865>] kmalloc_trace+0x25/0xc0 [<ffffffff88968b09>] mac802154_llsec_key_add+0xac9/0xcf0 [<ffffffff8896e41a>] ieee802154_add_llsec_key+0x5a/0x80 [<ffffffff8892adc6>] nl802154_add_llsec_key+0x426/0x5b0 [<ffffffff86ff293e>] genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0x1fe/0x2f0 [<ffffffff86ff46d1>] genl_rcv_msg+0x531/0x7d0 [<ffffffff86fee7a9>] netlink_rcv_skb+0x169/0x440 [<ffffffff86ff1d88>] genl_rcv+0x28/0x40 [<ffffffff86fec15c>] netlink_unicast+0x53c/0x820 [<ffffffff86fecd8b>] netlink_sendmsg+0x93b/0xe60 [<ffffffff86b91b35>] ____sys_sendmsg+0xac5/0xca0 [<ffffffff86b9c3dd>] ___sys_sendmsg+0x11d/0x1c0 [<ffffffff86b9c65a>] __sys_sendmsg+0xfa/0x1d0 [<ffffffff88eadbf5>] do_syscall_64+0x45/0xf0 [<ffffffff890000ea>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x76 Handle the proper resource release in the RCU callback function mac802154_llsec_key_del_rcu(). Note that if llsec_lookup_key() finds a key, it gets a refcount via llsec_key_get() and locally copies key id from key_entry (which is a list element). So it's safe to call llsec_key_put() and free the list entry after the RCU grace period elapses. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org).
How severe is CVE-2024-26961?
CVE-2024-26961 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2024-26961 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (15th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-26961?
CVE-2024-26961 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2024-26961?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2024-26961 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2024-26961 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-24223.
When was CVE-2024-26961 published?
CVE-2024-26961 was published on 2024-05-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

More vulnerabilities in Linux Linux Kernel

All CVEs affecting Linux Linux Kernel →

Other CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities

Browse all CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities →