Remote kernel compromise via signing-key use-after-free race
Published Dec 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows remote attackers controlling an SMB server to compromise the kernel during signed SMB2.1 mounts. A reconnect or DFS re-referral can free ses->auth_key.response in cifs_setup_session while smb2_calc_signature passes the stale key to crypto_shash_setkey. No client credentials are required by a malicious, compromised, or spoofed SMB server, and successful exploitation permits kernel-memory disclosure, modification, or a crash.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows remote attackers controlling an SMB server to compromise the kernel during signed SMB2.1 mounts. A reconnect or DFS re-referral can free ses->auth_key.response in cifs_setup_session while smb2_calc_signature passes the stale key to crypto_shash_setkey. No client credentials are required by a malicious, compromised, or spoofed SMB server, and successful exploitation permits kernel-memory disclosure, modification, or a crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-53179
- Published
- Dec 27, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=3.12
- Affected versionversion=32811d242ff6f28da2ab18c90a15e32fd958e774 <0e2b654a3848bf9da3b0d54c1ccf3f1b8c635591
- Affected versionversion=32811d242ff6f28da2ab18c90a15e32fd958e774 <343d7fe6df9e247671440a932b6a73af4fa86d95
- Affected versionversion=32811d242ff6f28da2ab18c90a15e32fd958e774 <39619c65ab4bbb3e78c818f537687653e112764d
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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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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