CVE-2024-41078

Kernel memory leak via unreleased quota root

Published Jul 29, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

A memory leak in the btrfs qgroup subsystem in affected Linux kernels beginning with 3.6 allows local users to retain kernel memory. The quota-disable error path clears fs_info->quota_root and jumps to its exit without calling btrfs_put_root(), leaving the quota root referenced. Reaching the path requires a quota-disable attempt plus a cleanup or root-tree deletion failure; each occurrence leaves that root's memory unreleased.

CVSS severity5.5
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

A memory leak in the btrfs qgroup subsystem in affected Linux kernels beginning with 3.6 allows local users to retain kernel memory. The quota-disable error path clears fs_info->quota_root and jumps to its exit without calling btrfs_put_root(), leaving the quota root referenced. Reaching the path requires a quota-disable attempt plus a cleanup or root-tree deletion failure; each occurrence leaves that root's memory unreleased.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-41078
Published
Jul 29, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-401
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 29, 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=3.6
  2. Affected versionversion=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <5ef3961682e5310f2221bae99bcf9f5d0f4b0d51
  3. Affected versionversion=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <7dd6a5b96157a21245566b21fd58276a214357ff
  4. Affected versionversion=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <8a69529f22590b67bb018de9acbcf94abc8603cf
  5. Affected versionversion=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <94818bdb00ef34a996a06aa63d11f591074cb757
  6. Affected versionversion=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <a7e4c6a3031c74078dba7fa36239d0f4fe476c53
  7. Affected versionversion=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <f88aeff5a173e8ba3133314eb4b964236ef3589d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.6; version=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <5ef3961682e5310f2221bae99bcf9f5d0f4b0d51; version=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <7dd6a5b96157a21245566b21fd58276a214357ff; version=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <8a69529f22590b67bb018de9acbcf94abc8603cf; version=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <94818bdb00ef34a996a06aa63d11f591074cb757; version=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <a7e4c6a3031c74078dba7fa36239d0f4fe476c53; version=bed92eae26ccf280d1a2168b7509447b56675a27 <f88aeff5a173e8ba3133314eb4b964236ef3589d

Published CVSS scores

5.5Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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 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-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

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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