CVE-2024-56601

Kernel compromise via dangling socket pointer

Published Dec 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux 2.6.12 through 6.12 allows local users to access freed kernel memory after IPv4 socket creation fails. In inet_create(), sock_init_data() stores the allocated sk object in sock, but a later error frees sk without clearing sock->sk. Low-privileged local code can trigger the failure with socket(), then reuse the stale pointer to disclose kernel data, corrupt memory, or crash the system.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
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 Linux 2.6.12 through 6.12 allows local users to access freed kernel memory after IPv4 socket creation fails. In inet_create(), sock_init_data() stores the allocated sk object in sock, but a later error frees sk without clearing sock->sk. Low-privileged local code can trigger the failure with socket(), then reuse the stale pointer to disclose kernel data, corrupt memory, or crash the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-56601
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

  1. Dec 27, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <25447c6aaa7235f155292b0c58a067347e8ae891
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2bc34d8c8898ae9fddf4612501aabb22d76c2b2c
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3e8258070b0f2aba66b3ef18883de229674fb288
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <691d6d816f93b2a1008c14178399061466e674ef
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9365fa510c6f82e3aa550a09d0c5c6b44dbc78ff
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b4513cfd3a10c03c660d5d3d26c2e322efbfdd9b
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f8a3f255f7509a209292871715cda03779640c8d
  8. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <25447c6aaa7235f155292b0c58a067347e8ae891; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2bc34d8c8898ae9fddf4612501aabb22d76c2b2c; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3e8258070b0f2aba66b3ef18883de229674fb288; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <691d6d816f93b2a1008c14178399061466e674ef; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9365fa510c6f82e3aa550a09d0c5c6b44dbc78ff; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b4513cfd3a10c03c660d5d3d26c2e322efbfdd9b; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f8a3f255f7509a209292871715cda03779640c8d; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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

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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

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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