net/ipv6: release expired exception dst cached in socket
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 7 fixed, 4 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: net/ipv6: release expired exception dst cached in socket Dst objects get leaked in ip6_negative_advice() when this function is executed for an expired IPv6 route located in the exception table. There are several conditions that must be fulfilled for the leak to occur: * an ICMPv6 packet indicating a change of the MTU for the path is received, resulting in an exception dst being created * a TCP connection that uses the exception dst for routing packets must start timing out so that TCP begins retransmissions * after the exception dst expires, the FIB6 garbage collector must not run before TCP executes ip6_negative_advice() for the expired exception dst When TCP executes ip6_negative_advice() for an exception dst that has expired and if no other socket holds a reference to the exception dst, the refcount of the exception dst is 2, which corresponds to the increment made by dst_init() and the increment made by the TCP socket for which the connection is timing out. The refcount made by the socket is never released. The refcount of the dst is decremented in sk_dst_reset() but that decrement is counteracted by a dst_hold() intentionally placed just before the sk_dst_reset() in ip6_negative_advice(). After ip6_negative_advice() has finished, there is no other object tied to the dst. The socket lost its reference stored in sk_dst_cache and the dst is no longer in the exception table. The exception dst becomes a leaked object. As a result of this dst leak, an unbalanced refcount is reported for the loopback device of a net namespace being destroyed under kernels that do not contain e5f80fcf869a ("ipv6: give an IPv6 dev to blackhole_netdev"): unregister_netdevice: waiting for lo to become free. Usage count = 2 Fix the dst leak by removing the dst_hold() in ip6_negative_advice(). The patch that introduced the dst_hold() in ip6_negative_advice() was 92f1655aa2b22 ("net: fix __dst_negative_advice() race"). But 92f1655aa2b22 merely refactored the code with regards to the dst refcount so the issue was present even before 92f1655aa2b22. The bug was introduced in 54c1a859efd9f ("ipv6: Don't drop cache route entry unless timer actually expired.") where the expired cached route is deleted and the sk_dst_cache member of the socket is set to NULL by calling dst_negative_advice() but the refcount belonging to the socket is left unbalanced. The IPv4 version - ipv4_negative_advice() - is not affected by this bug. When the TCP connection times out ipv4_negative_advice() merely resets the sk_dst_cache of the socket while decrementing the refcount of the exception dst.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- 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 | 2.6.33.2 to before 2.6.34 | 2.6.34 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.34 and later | 5.4.287, 5.10.231, 5.15.174, 6.1.120, 6.6.66, 6.12.5, 6.13 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.33.2 to before 2.6.34 Fixed in 2.6.34 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.34 and later Fixed in 5.4.287, 5.10.231, 5.15.174, 6.1.120, 6.6.66, 6.12.5, 6.13 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.33.2 to before 2.6.34; 2.6.34.1 to before 5.4.287; 5.5 to before 5.10.231; 5.11 to before 5.15.174; 5.16 to before 6.1.120; 6.2 to before 6.6.66; 6.7 to before 6.12.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.34 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.34 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.34 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.34 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.34 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.34 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.13 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.33.2 to before 2.6.34; 2.6.34.1 to before 5.4.287; 5.5 to before 5.10.231; 5.11 to before 5.15.174; 5.16 to before 6.1.120; 6.2 to before 6.6.66; 6.7 to before 6.12.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.34 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.34 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.34 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.34 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.34 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.34:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.34 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.13:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.13 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 2.6.34
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.4.287, 5.10.231, 5.15.174, 6.1.120, 6.6.66, 6.12.5, 6.13
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2025:13589 Released 2025-08-11 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.69.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.69.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.69.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.69.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2025:6966 Released 2025-05-13 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6 +11
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 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:6966 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13589 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:6966 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:13589 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:6966 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:6966 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2025:6966 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-56644
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4cgh-427p-hh6m
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a95808252e8acc0123bacd2dff8b9af10bc145b7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b90d061345bb8cd51fece561a800bae1c95448a6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b8903e6c881f72c6849d4952de742c656eb5ab9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/535add1e9f274502209cb997801208bbe1ae6c6f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f43d12fd0fa8ee5b9caf8a3927e10d06431764d2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8b591bd522b71c42a82898290e35d32b482047e4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3301ab7d5aeb0fe270f73a3d4810c9d1b6a9f045
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- 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-2024-56644 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-56644 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4cgh-427p-hh6m · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2024-56644 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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