# CVE-2024-26737: bpf: Fix racing between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free and bpf_timer_cancel

> A race condition in the Linux kernel BPF timer implementation allows a use-after-free, potentially enabling local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Apr 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-26737, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-26737, GHSA-8x8h-8p2w-8g4f, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-26737

## What is CVE-2024-26737?

CVE-2024-26737 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 3 Apr 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: Fix racing between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free and bpf_timer_cancel

The following race is possible between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free
and bpf_timer_cancel. It will lead a UAF on the timer->timer.

bpf_timer_cancel();
	spin_lock();
	t = timer->time;
	spin_unlock();

					bpf_timer_cancel_and_free();
						spin_lock();
						t = timer->timer;
						timer->timer = NULL;
						spin_unlock();
						hrtimer_cancel(&t->timer);
						kfree(t);

	/* UAF on t */
	hrtimer_cancel(&t->timer);

In bpf_timer_cancel_and_free, this patch frees the timer->timer
after a rcu grace period. This requires a rcu_head addition
to the "struct bpf_hrtimer". Another kfree(t) happens in bpf_timer_init,
this does not need a kfree_rcu because it is still under the
spin_lock and timer->timer has not been visible by others yet.

In bpf_timer_cancel, rcu_read_lock() is added because this helper
can be used in a non rcu critical section context (e.g. from
a sleepable bpf prog). Other timer->timer usages in helpers.c
have been audited, bpf_timer_cancel() is the only place where
timer->timer is used outside of the spin_lock.

Another solution considered is to mark a t->flag in bpf_timer_cancel
and clear it after hrtimer_cancel() is done.  In bpf_timer_cancel_and_free,
it busy waits for the flag to be cleared before kfree(t). This patch
goes with a straight forward solution and frees timer->timer after
a rcu grace period.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-26737?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-26737?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-26737 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-26737 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-26737 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-26737 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 3 Apr 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-26737 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-26737/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-26737/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-26737
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-26737
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-26737

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-26737/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.