af_unix: Fix garbage collector racing against connect()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 21 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Fix garbage collector racing against connect() Garbage collector does not take into account the risk of embryo getting enqueued during the garbage collection. If such embryo has a peer that carries SCM_RIGHTS, two consecutive passes of scan_children() may see a different set of children. Leading to an incorrectly elevated inflight count, and then a dangling pointer within the gc_inflight_list. sockets are AF_UNIX/SOCK_STREAM S is an unconnected socket L is a listening in-flight socket bound to addr, not in fdtable V's fd will be passed via sendmsg(), gets inflight count bumped connect(S, addr) sendmsg(S, [V]); close(V) __unix_gc() ---------------- ------------------------- ----------- NS = unix_create1() skb1 = sock_wmalloc(NS) L = unix_find_other(addr) unix_state_lock(L) unix_peer(S) = NS // V count=1 inflight=0 NS = unix_peer(S) skb2 = sock_alloc() skb_queue_tail(NS, skb2[V]) // V became in-flight // V count=2 inflight=1 close(V) // V count=1 inflight=1 // GC candidate condition met for u in gc_inflight_list: if (total_refs == inflight_refs) add u to gc_candidates // gc_candidates={L, V} for u in gc_candidates: scan_children(u, dec_inflight) // embryo (skb1) was not // reachable from L yet, so V's // inflight remains unchanged __skb_queue_tail(L, skb1) unix_state_unlock(L) for u in gc_candidates: if (u.inflight) scan_children(u, inc_inflight_move_tail) // V count=1 inflight=2 (!) If there is a GC-candidate listening socket, lock/unlock its state. This makes GC wait until the end of any ongoing connect() to that socket. After flipping the lock, a possibly SCM-laden embryo is already enqueued. And if there is another embryo coming, it can not possibly carry SCM_RIGHTS. At this point, unix_inflight() can not happen because unix_gc_lock is already taken. Inflight graph remains unaffected.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.23 and later | 4.19.314, 5.4.275, 5.10.216, 5.15.156, 6.1.87, 6.6.28, 6.8.7, 6.9 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.23 and later Fixed in 4.19.314, 5.4.275, 5.10.216, 5.15.156, 6.1.87, 6.6.28, 6.8.7, 6.9 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.23 to before 4.19.314; 4.20 to before 5.4.275; 5.5 to before 5.10.216; 5.11 to before 5.15.156; 5.16 to before 6.1.87; 6.2 to before 6.6.28; 6.7 to before 6.8.7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.9:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.9 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.9:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.9 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.9:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.9 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.23 to before 4.19.314; 4.20 to before 5.4.275; 5.5 to before 5.10.216; 5.11 to before 5.15.156; 5.16 to before 6.1.87; 6.2 to before 6.6.28; 6.7 to before 6.8.7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.9:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.9 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.9:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.9 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.9:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.9 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.19.314, 5.4.275, 5.10.216, 5.15.156, 6.1.87, 6.6.28, 6.8.7, 6.9
Red Hat 7 advisories
- RHSA-2024:8617 Released 2024-10-30 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) bpftool-7.3.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, libperf-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.42.1.el9_4 +9
- RHSA-2024:7486 Released 2024-10-02 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.125.1.el8_6 +14
- RHSA-2024:7000 Released 2024-09-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.22.1.el8_10
Show 4 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2024:6993 Released 2024-09-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-477.74.1.el8_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.74.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.74.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.74.1.el8_8 +19
- RHSA-2024:7001 Released 2024-09-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.22.1.rt7.363.el8_10 +7
- RHSA-2024:4831 Released 2024-07-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.75.1.rt14.360.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.75.1.rt14.360.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.75.1.rt14.360.el9_2 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.75.1.rt14.360.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.75.1.rt14.360.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.75.1.rt14.360.el9_2 +11
- RHSA-2024:4823 Released 2024-07-24 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.2) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-284.75.1.el9_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-284.75.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-284.75.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-284.75.1.el9_2 +10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.2) bpftool-7.0.0-284.75.1.el9_2, kernel-5.14.0-284.75.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-5.14.0-284.75.1.el9_2 +29
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| RHOAI-2.13-RHEL-8 | Fixed | — |
| RHOAI-2.14-RHEL-8 | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6993 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:4823 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8617 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:4823 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7000 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8617 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7486 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7486 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6993 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:4823 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7486 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7000 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8617 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7001 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8617 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:7001 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:8617 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:4831 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:4831 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-26923
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8f6m-26fj-7fm5
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: RHOAI-2.13-RHEL-8, RHOAI-2.14-RHEL-8 · Red Hat
- 2026-11-03 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a36ae0ec2353015f0f6762e59f4c2dbc0c906423
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/343c5372d5e17b306db5f8f3c895539b06e3177f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2e2a03787f4f0abc0072350654ab0ef3324d9db3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e76c2678228f6aec74b305ae30c9374cc2f28a51
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b75722be422c276b699200de90527d01c602ea7c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/507cc232ffe53a352847893f8177d276c3b532a9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dbdf7bec5c920200077d693193f989cb1513f009
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47d8ac011fe1c9251070e1bd64cb10b48193ec51
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2024-26923 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-26923 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8f6m-26fj-7fm5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2024-26923 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences