Kernel memory corruption via stale network namespace reference
Published Dec 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux kernel SUNRPC TCP handling allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through network namespace teardown. xs_destroy closes the TCP socket without retaining its network-namespace reference, allowing an armed retransmission timer to dereference the freed struct net after cleanup_net runs. Exploitation requires low-privileged local control of namespace creation, SUNRPC transport setup, FIN suppression, and namespace deletion, and allows privilege escalation or a host panic.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernel SUNRPC TCP handling allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through network namespace teardown. xs_destroy closes the TCP socket without retaining its network-namespace reference, allowing an armed retransmission timer to dereference the freed struct net after cleanup_net runs. Exploitation requires low-privileged local control of namespace creation, SUNRPC transport setup, FIN suppression, and namespace deletion, and allows privilege escalation or a host panic.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-53168
- Published
- Dec 27, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 27, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe <0ca87e5063757132a044d35baba40a7d4bb25394
- Affected versionversion=26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe <3f23f96528e8fcf8619895c4c916c52653892ec1
- Affected versionversion=26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe <61c0a5eac96836de5e3a5897eccdc63162a94936
- Affected versionversion=26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe <694ccb05b79ee5f5a9f14c2f80d2635d3bb8bdc3
- Affected versionversion=4.2
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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