CVE-2024-26961

What it is

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).

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2024-05-01 06:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-15 01:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.0 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2024-05-01 06:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-15 01:17 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-416 · Use after free

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 5.10.215
• Linux Kernel < 5.15.154
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.84
• Linux Kernel < 6.6.24
• Linux Kernel < 6.7.12
• Linux Kernel < 6.8.3

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.0

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

High

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2024-26961.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2024-26961. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

Copy as ticket · More options · Status badge