Kernel compromise via premature network namespace free
Published Dec 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel allows local users to crash or compromise the system during network namespace teardown. The xfrm4_net_init and xfrm6_net_init paths copy destination-operation tables into struct net, which can be freed before dst_destroy invokes a pending destroy callback through the stale table. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a teardown sequence that leaves destination callbacks pending, exposing kernel memory integrity and host availability.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel allows local users to crash or compromise the system during network namespace teardown. The xfrm4_net_init and xfrm6_net_init paths copy destination-operation tables into struct net, which can be freed before dst_destroy invokes a pending destroy callback through the stale table. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a teardown sequence that leaves destination callbacks pending, exposing kernel memory integrity and host availability.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-56658
- Published
- Dec 27, 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
- 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=1bd631fc9a4515878c1bb7effd19335d2f2d87c2
- Affected versionversion=3.12.54 <3.13
- Affected versionversion=3.18.27 <3.19
- Affected versionversion=3e29fa5b742479f73400468314a1c6b9cf553ee4
- Affected versionversion=4.1.17 <4.2
- Affected versionversion=4.3.5 <4.4
- Affected versionversion=4.4
- Affected versionversion=a8a572a6b5f2a79280d6e302cb3c1cb1fbaeb3e8 <0f6ede9fbc747e2553612271bce108f7517e7a45
- Affected versionversion=a8a572a6b5f2a79280d6e302cb3c1cb1fbaeb3e8 <3267b254dc0a04dfa362a2be24573cfa6d2d78f5
- Affected versionversion=a8a572a6b5f2a79280d6e302cb3c1cb1fbaeb3e8 <6610c7f8a8d47fd1123eed55ba8c11c2444d8842
- Affected versionversion=a8a572a6b5f2a79280d6e302cb3c1cb1fbaeb3e8 <b7a79e51297f7b82adb687086f5cb2da446f1e40
- Affected versionversion=a8a572a6b5f2a79280d6e302cb3c1cb1fbaeb3e8 <c261dcd61c9e88a8f1a66654354d32295a975230
- Affected versionversion=a8a572a6b5f2a79280d6e302cb3c1cb1fbaeb3e8 <dac465986a4a38cd2f13e934f562b6ca344e5720
- Affected versionversion=ce43f6a650a6689551a217276fb0dcca33790425
- Affected versionversion=eeca98948d8c4922e6deb16bfc9ee0bd9902dbb0
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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