CVE-2024-46845·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing/timerlat: Only clear timer if a kthread exists The timerlat tracer can use user space threads to check for osnoise and timer latency. If the program using this is killed via a SIGTERM, the threads are shutdown one at a time and another tracing instance can start up resetting the threads before they are fully closed. That causes the hrtimer assigned to the kthread to be shutdown and freed twice when the dying thread finally closes the file descriptors, causing a use-after-free bug. Only cancel the hrtimer if the associated thread is still around. Also add the interface_lock around the resetting of the tlat_var->kthread. Note, this is just a quick fix that can be backported to stable. A real fix is to have a better synchronization between the shutdown of old threads and the starting of new ones.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.10.10
- 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% — higher than 5% 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-2024-46845 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: 6.10.10
Fixed in: 6.10.10
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.10.10 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the timerlat tracer. This issue occurs when user-space threads monitoring timer latency are terminated abruptly while new tracing instances attempt to reinitialize, causing the hrtimer to be freed twice. Apply the patch immediately if you are using kernel versions 6.7 through 6.10.9, particularly in environments running timerlat-based monitoring.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check your current kernel version: uname -r
- Verify if timerlat tracer is active: cat /sys/kernel/tracing/current_tracer | grep timerlat
- Review kernel logs for use-after-free warnings: dmesg | grep -i 'use-after-free\|use after free\|hrtimer'
- Confirm the patch is applied by checking kernel build info: cat /proc/version and verify the version is 6.10.10 or later
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-46845?
CVE-2024-46845 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's timerlat tracer that occurs when user-space monitoring threads are terminated while new tracing instances simultaneously reset the kernel threads, causing the hrtimer to be deallocated twice.
Is CVE-2024-46845 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2024-46845 is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has no public exploits available.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-46845?
Linux kernel versions 6.7 through 6.10.9 are affected. The vulnerability has been fixed in kernel 6.10.10 and later.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-46845?
Run `uname -r` to display your kernel version. If the version is between 6.7 and 6.10.9 inclusive, and you are using timerlat tracing (check `cat /sys/kernel/tracing/current_tracer`), your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-46845?
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-2024-46845 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
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