CVE-2024-35929·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu/nocb: Fix WARN_ON_ONCE() in the rcu_nocb_bypass_lock() For the kernels built with CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_DEFAULT_ALL=y and CONFIG_RCU_LAZY=y, the following scenarios will trigger WARN_ON_ONCE() in the rcu_nocb_bypass_lock() and rcu_nocb_wait_contended() functions: CPU2 CPU11 kthread rcu_nocb_cb_kthread ksys_write rcu_do_batch vfs_write rcu_torture_timer_cb proc_sys_write __kmem_cache_free proc_sys_call_handler kmemleak_free drop_caches_sysctl_handler delete_object_full drop_slab __delete_object shrink_slab put_object lazy_rcu_shrink_scan call_rcu rcu_nocb_flush_bypass __call_rcu_commn rcu_nocb_bypass_lock raw_spin_trylock(&rdp->nocb_bypass_lock) fail atomic_inc(&rdp->nocb_lock_contended); rcu_nocb_wait_contended WARN_ON_ONCE(smp_processor_id() != rdp->cpu); WARN_ON_ONCE(atomic_read(&rdp->nocb_lock_contended)) | |_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _same rdp and rdp->cpu != 11_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __| Reproduce this bug with "echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches". This commit therefore uses rcu_nocb_try_flush_bypass() instead of rcu_nocb_flush_bypass() in lazy_rcu_shrink_scan(). If the nocb_bypass queue is being flushed, then rcu_nocb_try_flush_bypass will return directly.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.8.6
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at <0.1% — in the bottom 1% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Read the two together. CVE-2024-35929 scores 7.8 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at <0.1%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
Affected versions
From: 6.7
Until: 6.8.6
Fixed in: 6.8.6
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.8.6 or later to resolve a race condition in the RCU nocb (no-callback) subsystem that triggers false WARN_ON_ONCE warnings under specific memory pressure conditions. Systems using CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_DEFAULT_ALL and CONFIG_RCU_LAZY should prioritize this patch, particularly those experiencing cache drop operations or memory shrinking scenarios.
sudo dnf update kernelDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your kernel version with `uname -r` — compare the version string against 6.8.6; versions 6.7.x through 6.8.5 are vulnerable
- Step 2: Verify RCU NOCB configuration with `grep CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_DEFAULT_ALL /boot/config-$(uname -r)` and `grep CONFIG_RCU_LAZY /boot/config-$(uname -r)` — both must be set to 'y' for exploitation path to exist
- Step 3: Monitor kernel logs for WARN_ON_ONCE stack traces mentioning 'rcu_nocb_bypass_lock()' or 'rcu_nocb_wait_contended()' with `dmesg | grep -i 'warn_on_once\|nocb'`
- Step 4: After patching, confirm the new kernel is active with `uname -r` and verify no nocb-related warnings appear in logs after running cache drops like `echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches`
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-35929?
A race condition in the Linux kernel's RCU (Read-Copy-Update) no-callback subsystem that causes spurious WARN_ON_ONCE warnings when memory pressure triggers cache shrinking operations on systems with specific RCU configurations enabled. This is a logic bug rather than a security vulnerability, but impacts system stability and logging reliability.
Is CVE-2024-35929 being actively exploited?
No — this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's KEV catalog and there are no known public exploits. It manifests as a kernel warning condition rather than a security breach.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-35929?
Linux kernel versions 6.7.0 through 6.8.5 are vulnerable when compiled with CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_DEFAULT_ALL=y and CONFIG_RCU_LAZY=y. The fix is included in kernel 6.8.6 and later.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-35929?
Run `uname -r` and verify your version is between 6.7 and 6.8.5, then check `cat /boot/config-$(uname -r) | grep -E 'CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_DEFAULT_ALL|CONFIG_RCU_LAZY'` — if both are 'y', your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-35929?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-35929 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps and affected version ranges.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d58c9fb45c70e62c19e8be3f3605889c47601bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/927d1f4f77e4784ab3944a9df86ab14d1cd3185a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dda98810b552fc6bf650f4270edeebdc2f28bd3f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d58c9fb45c70e62c19e8be3f3605889c47601bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/927d1f4f77e4784ab3944a9df86ab14d1cd3185a
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