CVE-2024-40956

Kernel memory corruption via unsafe descriptor-list iteration

Published Jul 12, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel IDXD DMA engine allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent descriptor reuse. irq_process_work_list frees a completed descriptor with idxd_desc_complete() while ordinary list iteration can follow its stale link after another thread reuses the descriptor. The path requires the IDXD DMA engine and concurrent reuse during interrupt work-list processing, and resulting list corruption can crash the kernel or corrupt protected data.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.27%
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 the Linux kernel IDXD DMA engine allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent descriptor reuse. irq_process_work_list frees a completed descriptor with idxd_desc_complete() while ordinary list iteration can follow its stale link after another thread reuses the descriptor. The path requires the IDXD DMA engine and concurrent reuse during interrupt work-list processing, and resulting list corruption can crash the kernel or corrupt protected data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-40956
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=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <1b08bf5a17c66ab7dbb628df5344da53c8e7ab33
  2. Affected versionversion=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <83163667d881100a485b6c2daa30301b7f68d9b5
  3. Affected versionversion=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <a14968921486793f2a956086895c3793761309dd
  4. Affected versionversion=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <e3215deca4520773cd2b155bed164c12365149a7
  5. Affected versionversion=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <faa35db78b058a2ab6e074ee283f69fa398c36a8
  6. Affected versionversion=5.11

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <1b08bf5a17c66ab7dbb628df5344da53c8e7ab33; version=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <83163667d881100a485b6c2daa30301b7f68d9b5; version=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <a14968921486793f2a956086895c3793761309dd; version=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <e3215deca4520773cd2b155bed164c12365149a7; version=16e19e11228ba660d9e322035635e7dcf160d5c2 <faa35db78b058a2ab6e074ee283f69fa398c36a8; version=5.11

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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