CVE-2024-44991

tcp: prevent concurrent execution of tcp_sk_exit_batch

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 4, 2024 at 07:54 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 07:53 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: prevent concurrent execution of tcp_sk_exit_batch Its possible that two threads call tcp_sk_exit_batch() concurrently, once from the cleanup_net workqueue, once from a task that failed to clone a new netns. In the latter case, error unwinding calls the exit handlers in reverse order for the 'failed' netns. tcp_sk_exit_batch() calls tcp_twsk_purge(). Problem is that since commit b099ce2602d8 ("net: Batch inet_twsk_purge"), this function picks up twsk in any dying netns, not just the one passed in via exit_batch list. This means that the error unwind of setup_net() can "steal" and destroy timewait sockets belonging to the exiting netns. This allows the netns exit worker to proceed to call WARN_ON_ONCE(!refcount_dec_and_test(&net->ipv4.tcp_death_row.tw_refcount)); without the expected 1 -> 0 transition, which then splats. At same time, error unwind path that is also running inet_twsk_purge() will splat as well: WARNING: .. at lib/refcount.c:31 refcount_warn_saturate+0x1ed/0x210 ... refcount_dec include/linux/refcount.h:351 [inline] inet_twsk_kill+0x758/0x9c0 net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:70 inet_twsk_deschedule_put net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:221 inet_twsk_purge+0x725/0x890 net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:304 tcp_sk_exit_batch+0x1c/0x170 net/ipv4/tcp_ipv4.c:3522 ops_exit_list+0x128/0x180 net/core/net_namespace.c:178 setup_net+0x714/0xb40 net/core/net_namespace.c:375 copy_net_ns+0x2f0/0x670 net/core/net_namespace.c:508 create_new_namespaces+0x3ea/0xb10 kernel/nsproxy.c:110 ... because refcount_dec() of tw_refcount unexpectedly dropped to 0. This doesn't seem like an actual bug (no tw sockets got lost and I don't see a use-after-free) but as erroneous trigger of debug check. Add a mutex to force strict ordering: the task that calls tcp_twsk_purge() blocks other task from doing final _dec_and_test before mutex-owner has removed all tw sockets of dying netns.

Affected

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

6.1 ≤ v < 6.1.1076.1 ≤ v < 6.10.76.1 ≤ v < 6.116.1 ≤ v < 6.6.486.2 ≤ v < 6.6.486.7 ≤ v < 6.10.76.11 rc16.11 rc26.11 rc36.11 rc4e9bd0cca09d13ac2f08d25e195203e42d4ad1ce8
Vendor states this is fixed in 565d121b69980637f040eb4d84289869cdaabedf (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 99580ae890ec8bd98b21a2a9c6668f8f1555b62e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in e3d9de3742f4d5c47ae35f888d3023a5b54fcd2f (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f6fd2dbf584a4047ba88d1369ff91c9851261ec1 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.107 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.10.7 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.11 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.48 (unaffected)

References (5)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/565d121b69980637f040eb4d84289869cdaabedf
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/99580ae890ec8bd98b21a2a9c6668f8f1555b62e
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3d9de3742f4d5c47ae35f888d3023a5b54fcd2f
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f6fd2dbf584a4047ba88d1369ff91c9851261ec1
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.html

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

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

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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