CVE-2024-39490

Kernel memory leak via unreleased sk_buff

Published Jul 10, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Memory leak in affected Linux kernels allows local users to retain kernel memory through IPv6 Segment Routing packet processing. When skb_cow_head() fails in seg6_input_core(), the error path returns without releasing the sk_buff that held the packet. Triggering that failure requires local access to the affected SRv6 input path; repeated failures consume kernel memory, while no crash is reported.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in affected Linux kernels allows local users to retain kernel memory through IPv6 Segment Routing packet processing. When skb_cow_head() fails in seg6_input_core(), the error path returns without releasing the sk_buff that held the packet. Triggering that failure requires local access to the affected SRv6 input path; repeated failures consume kernel memory, while no crash is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-39490
Published
Jul 10, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 10, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=4.12
  2. Affected versionversion=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <5447f9708d9e4c17a647b16a9cb29e9e02820bd9
  3. Affected versionversion=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <8f1fc3b86eaea70be6abcae2e9aa7e7b99453864
  4. Affected versionversion=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <e8688218e38111ace457509d8f0cad75f79c1a7a
  5. Affected versionversion=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <f4df8c7670a73752201cbde215254598efdf6ce8
  6. Affected versionversion=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <f5fec1588642e415a3d72e02140160661b303940

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.12; version=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <5447f9708d9e4c17a647b16a9cb29e9e02820bd9; version=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <8f1fc3b86eaea70be6abcae2e9aa7e7b99453864; version=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <e8688218e38111ace457509d8f0cad75f79c1a7a; version=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <f4df8c7670a73752201cbde215254598efdf6ce8; version=af3b5158b89d3bab9be881113417558c71b71ca4 <f5fec1588642e415a3d72e02140160661b303940

Published CVSS scores

6.2CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

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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