CVE-2024-46796

Kernel memory corruption via stale CIFS file reference

Published Sep 18, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through file truncation on a mounted SMB share. In smb2_set_path_size(), an -EINVAL retry reuses a cfile reference that smb2_compound_op() already released instead of acquiring a new writable path reference. The path requires a valid CIFS file handle and the error-producing retry; the observed result is a KASAN-detected write to freed slab memory in a kernel worker.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.44%
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 CIFS client allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through file truncation on a mounted SMB share. In smb2_set_path_size(), an -EINVAL retry reuses a cfile reference that smb2_compound_op() already released instead of acquiring a new writable path reference. The path requires a valid CIFS file handle and the error-producing retry; the observed result is a KASAN-detected write to freed slab memory in a kernel worker.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-46796
Published
Sep 18, 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. Sep 18, 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=1e60bc0e954389af82f1d9a85f13a63f6572350f <5a72d1edb0843e4c927a4096f81e631031c25c28
  2. Affected versionversion=6.6.32 <6.6.51
  3. Affected versionversion=6.9
  4. Affected versionversion=71f15c90e785d1de4bcd65a279e7256684c25c0d <762099898309218b4a7954f3d49e985dc4dfd638
  5. Affected versionversion=71f15c90e785d1de4bcd65a279e7256684c25c0d <f9c169b51b6ce20394594ef674d6b10efba31220

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1e60bc0e954389af82f1d9a85f13a63f6572350f <5a72d1edb0843e4c927a4096f81e631031c25c28; version=6.6.32 <6.6.51; version=6.9; version=71f15c90e785d1de4bcd65a279e7256684c25c0d <762099898309218b4a7954f3d49e985dc4dfd638; version=71f15c90e785d1de4bcd65a279e7256684c25c0d <f9c169b51b6ce20394594ef674d6b10efba31220

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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.

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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