CVE-2024-36972

Local privilege escalation via AF_UNIX out-of-band message race

Published Jun 10, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Race condition in the Linux kernel's AF_UNIX subsystem allows local users to escalate privileges or crash the host. __unix_gc() clears unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb without locking while queue_oob() can replace it concurrently, corrupting socket-buffer state. Unprivileged access to AF_UNIX socketpairs and MSG_OOB is sufficient; successful exploitation can expose or modify kernel memory, while an unsuccessful attempt can panic the system.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in the Linux kernel's AF_UNIX subsystem allows local users to escalate privileges or crash the host. __unix_gc() clears unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb without locking while queue_oob() can replace it concurrently, corrupting socket-buffer state. Unprivileged access to AF_UNIX socketpairs and MSG_OOB is sufficient; successful exploitation can expose or modify kernel memory, while an unsuccessful attempt can panic the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-36972
Published
Jun 10, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1068, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1279f9d9dec2d7462823a18c29ad61359e0a007d <4708f49add84a57ce0ccc7bf9a6269845c631cc3
  2. Affected versionversion=1279f9d9dec2d7462823a18c29ad61359e0a007d <9841991a446c87f90f66f4b9fee6fe934c1336a2
  3. Affected versionversion=4fe505c63aa3273135a57597fda761e9aecc7668 <518a994aa0b87d96f1bc6678a7035df5d1fcd7a1
  4. Affected versionversion=5.15.149 <5.15.161
  5. Affected versionversion=6.1.78 <6.1.93
  6. Affected versionversion=6.6.17 <6.6.33
  7. Affected versionversion=6.7.5 <6.8
  8. Affected versionversion=6.8
  9. Affected versionversion=82ae47c5c3a6b27fdc0f9e83c1499cb439c56140
  10. Affected versionversion=b74aa9ce13d02b7fd37c5325b99854f91b9b4276 <d59ae9314b97e01c76a4171472441e55721ba636
  11. Affected versionversion=e0e09186d8821ad59806115d347ea32efa43ca4b <4bf6964451c3cb411fbaa1ae8b214b3d97a59bf1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1279f9d9dec2d7462823a18c29ad61359e0a007d <4708f49add84a57ce0ccc7bf9a6269845c631cc3; version=1279f9d9dec2d7462823a18c29ad61359e0a007d <9841991a446c87f90f66f4b9fee6fe934c1336a2; version=4fe505c63aa3273135a57597fda761e9aecc7668 <518a994aa0b87d96f1bc6678a7035df5d1fcd7a1; version=5.15.149 <5.15.161; version=6.1.78 <6.1.93; version=6.6.17 <6.6.33; version=6.7.5 <6.8; version=6.8; version=82ae47c5c3a6b27fdc0f9e83c1499cb439c56140; version=b74aa9ce13d02b7fd37c5325b99854f91b9b4276 <d59ae9314b97e01c76a4171472441e55721ba636; version=e0e09186d8821ad59806115d347ea32efa43ca4b <4bf6964451c3cb411fbaa1ae8b214b3d97a59bf1
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1279f9d9dec2 <4708f49add84; version=1279f9d9dec2 <9841991a446c; version=4fe505c63aa3 <518a994aa0b8; version=6.8; version=b74aa9ce13d0 <d59ae9314b97; version=e0e09186d882 <4bf6964451c3

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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