In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mac802154: fix llsec key resources release in mac802154_llsec_key_del mac802154_llsec_key_del() can free resources of a key directly without following the RCU rules for waiting before the end of a grace period
Why It Matters
Analysis dossierWhy It Matters
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mac802154: fix llsec key resources release in mac802154_llsec_key_del mac802154_llsec_key_del() can free resources of a key directly without following the RCU rules for waiting before the end of a grace period. This may lead to use-after-free in case llsec_lookup_key() is traversing the list of keys in parallel with a key deletion: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 4 PID: 16000 at lib/refcount.c:25 refcount_warn_saturate+0x162/0x2a0 Modules linked in: CPU: 4 PID: 16000 Comm: wpan-ping Not tainted 6.7.0 #19 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.2-debian-1.16.2-1 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0x162/0x2a0 Call Trace: llsec_lookup_key.isra.0+0x890/0x9e0 mac802154_llsec_encrypt+0x30c/0x9c0 ieee802154_subif_start_xmit+0x24/0x1e0 dev_hard_start_xmit+0x13e/0x690 sch_direct_xmit+0x2ae/0xbc0 __dev_queue_xmit+0x11dd/0x3c20 dgram_sendmsg+0x90b/0xd60 __sys_sendto+0x466/0x4c0 __x64_sys_sendto+0xe0/0x1c0 do_syscall_64+0x45/0xf0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x76 Also, ieee802154_llsec_key_entry structures are not freed by mac802154_llsec_key_del(): unreferenced object 0xffff8880613b6980 (size 64): comm "iwpan", pid 2176, jiffies 4294761134 (age 60.475s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 78 0d 8f 18 80 88 ff ff 22 01 00 00 00 00 ad de x......."....... 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 cd ab 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace: [ ] __kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x1e2/0x2d0 [ ] kmalloc_trace+0x25/0xc0 [ ] mac802154_llsec_key_add+0xac9/0xcf0 [ ] ieee802154_add_llsec_key+0x5a/0x80 [ ] nl802154_add_llsec_key+0x426/0x5b0 [ ] genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0x1fe/0x2f0 [ ] genl_rcv_msg+0x531/0x7d0 [ ] netlink_rcv_skb+0x169/0x440 [ ] genl_rcv+0x28/0x40 [ ] netlink_unicast+0x53c/0x820 [ ] netlink_sendmsg+0x93b/0xe60 [ ] ____sys_sendmsg+0xac5/0xca0 [ ] ___sys_sendmsg+0x11d/0x1c0 [ ] __sys_sendmsg+0xfa/0x1d0 [ ] do_syscall_64+0x45/0xf0 [ ] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x76 Handle the proper resource release in the RCU callback function mac802154_llsec_key_del_rcu(). Note that if llsec_lookup_key() finds a key, it gets a refcount via llsec_key_get() and locally copies key id from key_entry (which is a list element). So it's safe to call llsec_key_put() and free the list entry after the RCU grace period elapses. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org).
High
Unknown
Unknown
Risk basis: SOC ecosystem technology relevance; HIGH severity; No confirmed exploitation signal in current enrichment
Affected Products & Remediation
1 source-backed product- linux linux kernel · >= 3.16 < 5.10.215; >= 5.11 < 5.15.154; >= 5.16 < 6.1.84; >= 6.2 < 6.6.24; >= 6.7 < 6.7.12; >= 6.8 < 6.8.3 · NVD CPE · Source
Vendor or catalog guidance (source)
Not provided by source
Known exploitation (source facts)
Only what a source states. Unknown means no source has said either way; it is not "not exploited".
- CISA KEV
- Unknown
- Exploited (source statement)
- Unknown
- Publicly disclosed (source)
- Unknown
Suggested hunting (rule-based inference)
SecOps Signal recommendation (rule-based inference). These steps are hunting hypotheses from the vulnerability class; they do not state or imply that exploitation occurred here or anywhere.
Matched local-privilege-escalation (CVSS AV:L, CVSS PR:L)
Exposure
- Identify hosts reporting this CVE, prioritising shared or multi-user systems.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · A local, low-privilege vector matters most where untrusted users can run code. · Rule local-privilege-escalation
Exploitation evidence
- Look for low-privileged processes spawning SYSTEM or root-level child processes on affected hosts.Telemetry: DeviceProcessEvents · Hunting hypothesis from the CVSS vector; privilege transitions are a focused starting point, not evidence of attack. · Rule local-privilege-escalation
Response
- Confirm the source-stated update on affected hosts.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · Host inventory can verify remediation. · Rule local-privilege-escalation
CISA KEV Record
CISA KEV status was not determined for this record.
Change History & Source Data
— No recorded material change
- CNA / source
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
- Record status · verification
- UPDATED · NVD API
- CPE
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Evidence & Provenance
Linked by the query's stored exact CVE association. Review required tables and validation status before use.
DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities| where CveId == "CVE-2024-26961"| project DeviceId, DeviceName, OSPlatform, OSVersion, SoftwareVendor, SoftwareName, SoftwareVersion, CveId, VulnerabilitySeverityLevel, RecommendedSecurityUpdate, RecommendedSecurityUpdateId| sort by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel descCorrelated briefings
— No published briefing references this CVE