CVE-2024-40954

Local kernel memory corruption via dangling socket pointer

Published Jul 12, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel branches from 5.12 allows local users to read or corrupt reclaimed kernel heap memory. When socket creation fails after sock_init_data(), sk_common_release() leaves socket->sk pointing to a freed struct sock, and an fentry probe invoking bpf_get_socket_cookie() dereferences it. Exposure requires host-installed socket-lifecycle eBPF instrumentation; an unprivileged process can then trigger kernel-data disclosure, heap corruption, or a panic through a failing socket syscall.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel branches from 5.12 allows local users to read or corrupt reclaimed kernel heap memory. When socket creation fails after sock_init_data(), sk_common_release() leaves socket->sk pointing to a freed struct sock, and an fentry probe invoking bpf_get_socket_cookie() dereferences it. Exposure requires host-installed socket-lifecycle eBPF instrumentation; an unprivileged process can then trigger kernel-data disclosure, heap corruption, or a panic through a failing socket syscall.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-40954
Published
Jul 12, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 12, 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=5.12
  2. Affected versionversion=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <454c454ed645fed051216b79622f7cb69c1638f5
  3. Affected versionversion=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <5dfe2408fd7dc4d2e7ac38a116ff0a37b1cfd3b9
  4. Affected versionversion=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <6cd4a78d962bebbaf8beb7d2ead3f34120e3f7b2
  5. Affected versionversion=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <78e4aa528a7b1204219d808310524344f627d069
  6. Affected versionversion=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <893eeba94c40d513cd0fe6539330ebdaea208c0e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.12; version=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <454c454ed645fed051216b79622f7cb69c1638f5; version=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <5dfe2408fd7dc4d2e7ac38a116ff0a37b1cfd3b9; version=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <6cd4a78d962bebbaf8beb7d2ead3f34120e3f7b2; version=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <78e4aa528a7b1204219d808310524344f627d069; version=c5dbb89fc2ac013afe67b9e4fcb3743c02b567cd <893eeba94c40d513cd0fe6539330ebdaea208c0e

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NISTCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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