CVE-2024-35970

af_unix: Clear stale u->oob_skb.

MEDIUM
6.3
CVSS Score
Published: May 20, 2024 at 09:41 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 07:35 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM6.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.5%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Clear stale u->oob_skb. syzkaller started to report deadlock of unix_gc_lock after commit 4090fa373f0e ("af_unix: Replace garbage collection algorithm."), but it just uncovers the bug that has been there since commit 314001f0bf92 ("af_unix: Add OOB support"). The repro basically does the following. from socket import * from array import array c1, c2 = socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM) c1.sendmsg([b'a'], [(SOL_SOCKET, SCM_RIGHTS, array("i", [c2.fileno()]))], MSG_OOB) c2.recv(1) # blocked as no normal data in recv queue c2.close() # done async and unblock recv() c1.close() # done async and trigger GC A socket sends its file descriptor to itself as OOB data and tries to receive normal data, but finally recv() fails due to async close(). The problem here is wrong handling of OOB skb in manage_oob(). When recvmsg() is called without MSG_OOB, manage_oob() is called to check if the peeked skb is OOB skb. In such a case, manage_oob() pops it out of the receive queue but does not clear unix_sock(sk)->oob_skb. This is wrong in terms of uAPI. Let's say we send "hello" with MSG_OOB, and "world" without MSG_OOB. The 'o' is handled as OOB data. When recv() is called twice without MSG_OOB, the OOB data should be lost. >>> from socket import * >>> c1, c2 = socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0) >>> c1.send(b'hello', MSG_OOB) # 'o' is OOB data 5 >>> c1.send(b'world') 5 >>> c2.recv(5) # OOB data is not received b'hell' >>> c2.recv(5) # OOB date is skipped b'world' >>> c2.recv(5, MSG_OOB) # This should return an error b'o' In the same situation, TCP actually returns -EINVAL for the last recv(). Also, if we do not clear unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb, unix_poll() always set EPOLLPRI even though the data has passed through by previous recv(). To avoid these issues, we must clear unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb when dequeuing it from recv queue. The reason why the old GC did not trigger the deadlock is because the old GC relied on the receive queue to detect the loop. When it is triggered, the socket with OOB data is marked as GC candidate because file refcount == inflight count (1). However, after traversing all inflight sockets, the socket still has a positive inflight count (1), thus the socket is excluded from candidates. Then, the old GC lose the chance to garbage-collect the socket. With the old GC, the repro continues to create true garbage that will never be freed nor detected by kmemleak as it's linked to the global inflight list. That's why we couldn't even notice the issue.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

5.15 ≤ v < 5.15.1565.15 ≤ v < 6.1.875.15 ≤ v < 6.6.285.15 ≤ v < 6.8.75.15 ≤ v < 6.95.16 ≤ v < 6.1.876.2 ≤ v < 6.6.286.7 ≤ v < 6.8.7314001f0bf927015e459c9d387d62a231fe93af36.9 rc16.9 rc26.9 rc3
Vendor states this is fixed in 601a89ea24d05089debfa2dc896ea9f5937ac7a6 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 698a95ade1a00e6494482046902b986dfffd1caf (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 84a352b7eba1142a95441380058985ff19f25ec9 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b46f4eaa4f0ec38909fb0072eea3aeddb32f954e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b4bc99d04c689b5652665394ae8d3e02fb754153 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.156 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.87 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.28 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.8.7 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.9 (unaffected)

References (5)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/601a89ea24d05089debfa2dc896ea9f5937ac7a6
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/698a95ade1a00e6494482046902b986dfffd1caf
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/84a352b7eba1142a95441380058985ff19f25ec9
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b46f4eaa4f0ec38909fb0072eea3aeddb32f954e
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b4bc99d04c689b5652665394ae8d3e02fb754153

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

6.3MEDIUMCISA-ADP
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
LOW
Availability
LOW
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-667

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