bpf: Defer work in bpf_timer_cancel_and_free
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Defer work in bpf_timer_cancel_and_free Currently, the same case as previous patch (two timer callbacks trying to cancel each other) can be invoked through bpf_map_update_elem as well, or more precisely, freeing map elements containing timers. Since this relies on hrtimer_cancel as well, it is prone to the same deadlock situation as the previous patch. It would be sufficient to use hrtimer_try_to_cancel to fix this problem, as the timer cannot be enqueued after async_cancel_and_free. Once async_cancel_and_free has been done, the timer must be reinitialized before it can be armed again. The callback running in parallel trying to arm the timer will fail, and freeing bpf_hrtimer without waiting is sufficient (given kfree_rcu), and bpf_timer_cb will return HRTIMER_NORESTART, preventing the timer from being rearmed again. However, there exists a UAF scenario where the callback arms the timer before entering this function, such that if cancellation fails (due to timer callback invoking this routine, or the target timer callback running concurrently). In such a case, if the timer expiration is significantly far in the future, the RCU grace period expiration happening before it will free the bpf_hrtimer state and along with it the struct hrtimer, that is enqueued. Hence, it is clear cancellation needs to occur after async_cancel_and_free, and yet it cannot be done inline due to deadlock issues. We thus modify bpf_timer_cancel_and_free to defer work to the global workqueue, adding a work_struct alongside rcu_head (both used at _different_ points of time, so can share space). Update existing code comments to reflect the new state of affairs.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 | 5.15 and later | 6.1.191, 6.6.158, 6.9.10, 6.10 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.15 and later Fixed in 6.1.191, 6.6.158, 6.9.10, 6.10 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 to before 6.9.10 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 to before 6.9.10 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.10:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.191, 6.6.158, 6.9.10, 6.10
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-41045
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w3rc-7c7w-5vq5
- 2026-10-03 Fix available: Linux/Linux@5eaa11c500ed07f505f86cec07d5593a71927e26, Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-03 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@7b27f15cab4c7d4f28c25b94a5284ad6d9d3695d · CNA
- 2026-10-30 1 new reference · CNA
References
Patch 2
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Sources
- CVE-2024-41045 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-41045 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-w3rc-7c7w-5vq5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2024-41045 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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