CVE-2024-46858·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mptcp: pm: Fix uaf in __timer_delete_sync There are two paths to access mptcp_pm_del_add_timer, result in a race condition: CPU1 CPU2 ==== ==== net_rx_action napi_poll netlink_sendmsg __napi_poll netlink_unicast process_backlog netlink_unicast_kernel __netif_receive_skb genl_rcv __netif_receive_skb_one_core netlink_rcv_skb NF_HOOK genl_rcv_msg ip_local_deliver_finish genl_family_rcv_msg ip_protocol_deliver_rcu genl_family_rcv_msg_doit tcp_v4_rcv mptcp_pm_nl_flush_addrs_doit tcp_v4_do_rcv mptcp_nl_remove_addrs_list tcp_rcv_established mptcp_pm_remove_addrs_and_subflows tcp_data_queue remove_anno_list_by_saddr mptcp_incoming_options mptcp_pm_del_add_timer mptcp_pm_del_add_timer kfree(entry) In remove_anno_list_by_saddr(running on CPU2), after leaving the critical zone protected by "pm.lock", the entry will be released, which leads to the occurrence of uaf in the mptcp_pm_del_add_timer(running on CPU1). Keeping a reference to add_timer inside the lock, and calling sk_stop_timer_sync() with this reference, instead of "entry->add_timer". Move list_del(&entry->list) to mptcp_pm_del_add_timer and inside the pm lock, do not directly access any members of the entry outside the pm lock, which can avoid similar "entry->x" uaf.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.10.11
- 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 4% 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-2024-46858 scores 7 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: 6.10.11
Fixed in: 6.10.11
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.10.11 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the MPTCP path manager timer handling. This vulnerability occurs due to a race condition between packet processing and netlink commands that can lead to memory corruption. Affected systems running kernel versions 6.7 through 6.10.10 should prioritize this update and reboot to activate the patched kernel.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r | grep -E '^(6\.[7-9]|6\.10\.[0-9]|6\.10\.10)' — if this matches, you are vulnerable
- Verify MPTCP support is enabled: grep -i MPTCP /boot/config-$(uname -r) — look for CONFIG_MPTCP=y to confirm the affected subsystem is active
- Monitor for kernel crash dumps or panics: journalctl -u kernel --since '1 hour ago' | grep -i 'UAF\|use-after-free\|mptcp' — exploitation may cause kernel oops
- Confirm patched version is running: uname -r should show kernel version 6.10.11 or later after reboot
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-46858?
CVE-2024-46858 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's MPTCP (Multipath TCP) path manager that allows local privilege escalation through a race condition between network packet processing and netlink socket operations.
Is CVE-2024-46858 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not documented as being actively exploited in the wild, and no public exploit code has been released. However, it is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability that should still be patched promptly.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-46858?
Linux kernel versions 6.7 through 6.10.10 are vulnerable. The fix is included in kernel 6.10.11 and later stable releases.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-46858?
Run 'uname -r' and check if the output matches version 6.7 to 6.10.10. Additionally, verify MPTCP is enabled with 'grep CONFIG_MPTCP /boot/config-$(uname -r)' — if it shows CONFIG_MPTCP=y, the vulnerable code path is active.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-46858?
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-2024-46858 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0e7814b028cd50b3ff79659d23dfa9da6a1e75e1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/12134a652b0a10064844ea235173e70246eba6dc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3554482f4691571fc4b5490c17ae26896e62171c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6452b162549c7f9ef54655d3fb9977b9192e6e5b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/67409b358500c71632116356a0b065f112d7b707
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