CVE-2024-47676·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/hugetlb.c: fix UAF of vma in hugetlb fault pathway Syzbot reports a UAF in hugetlb_fault(). This happens because vmf_anon_prepare() could drop the per-VMA lock and allow the current VMA to be freed before hugetlb_vma_unlock_read() is called. We can fix this by using a modified version of vmf_anon_prepare() that doesn't release the VMA lock on failure, and then release it ourselves after hugetlb_vma_unlock_read().
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.11.2
- 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-2024-47676 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: 6.11
Until: 6.11.2
Fixed in: 6.11.2
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.11.2 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the hugetlb fault handling code. This flaw could allow local attackers with low privileges to cause memory corruption or system instability. Apply the patch immediately on systems running kernel versions 6.11 through 6.11.2.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check current kernel version: uname -r — confirm if version is between 6.11 and 6.11.2
- Verify hugetlb is in use: grep -i hugetlb /proc/cmdline or check /proc/sys/vm/nr_hugepages for non-zero values
- Search kernel logs for hugetlb_fault errors: journalctl -xe | grep -i hugetlb or dmesg | grep -i hugetlb
- Confirm patch application: grep vmf_anon_prepare /boot/System.map-$(uname -r) and verify kernel version shows 6.11.2 or newer with uname -r
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-47676?
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's hugetlb memory fault handler. A race condition in vmf_anon_prepare() can cause the virtual memory area (VMA) to be freed while still referenced, leading to memory corruption when processing hugetlb page faults.
Is CVE-2024-47676 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and there are no public exploits available. However, it poses a significant local privilege escalation risk for systems with low-privileged users.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-47676?
Linux kernel versions 6.11 through 6.11.2 are vulnerable. The fix is available in kernel 6.11.2 and later stable releases.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-47676?
Run 'uname -r' and check if the output shows a kernel version between 6.11 and 6.11.2. Additionally, verify hugetlb support is enabled with 'cat /proc/sys/vm/nr_hugepages' — a non-zero value indicates potential exposure.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-47676?
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-2024-47676 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
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