CVE-2024-36971 Android Kernel Remote Code Execution

Exploited in the wild High 7.8 Published 10 Jun 2024 Updated 5 Aug 2026

A race condition in the Linux kernel network stack allows attackers to trigger a use-after-free, potentially leading to code execution or privilege escalation.

Exploited in the wild: Since 7 Aug 2024
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2024-36971?

CVE-2024-36971 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 10 Jun 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:

net: fix __dst_negative_advice() race

__dst_negative_advice() does not enforce proper RCU rules when sk->dst_cache must be cleared, leading to possible UAF.

RCU rules are that we must first clear sk->sk_dst_cache, then call dst_release(old_dst).

Note that sk_dst_reset(sk) is implementing this protocol correctly, while __dst_negative_advice() uses the wrong order.

Given that ip6_negative_advice() has special logic against RTF_CACHE, this means each of the three ->negative_advice() existing methods must perform the sk_dst_reset() themselves.

Note the check against NULL dst is centralized in __dst_negative_advice(), there is no need to duplicate it in various callbacks.

Many thanks to Clement Lecigne for tracking this issue.

This old bug became visible after the blamed commit, using UDP sockets.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-36971?

It affects 2 products.

Linux distribution packages (39)

`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_13_1` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-2.el9_4`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_13_1-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-2.el9_4`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_13_1-debugsource` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos	All versions	`0:1-2.el9_4`
`bpftool` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`bpftool-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-abi-whitelists` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-core` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debug` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debug-core` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debug-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debug-devel` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debug-modules` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debug-modules-extra` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-devel` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-doc` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-modules` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-modules-extra` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-tools` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-tools-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kernel-tools-libs` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`perf` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`perf-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`python3-perf` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`python3-perf-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::baseos	All versions	`0:4.18.0-193.138.1.el8_2`
`kpatch-patch-4_18_0-305_120_1` Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::baseos	All versions	`0:1-4.el8_4`
`kpatch-patch-4_18_0-305_120_1-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::baseos	All versions	`0:1-4.el8_4`
`kpatch-patch-4_18_0-305_120_1-debugsource` Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::baseos	All versions	`0:1-4.el8_4`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-284_48_1` Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::baseos	All versions	`0:1-5.el9_2`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-284_48_1-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::baseos	All versions	`0:1-5.el9_2`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-284_48_1-debugsource` Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::baseos	All versions	`0:1-5.el9_2`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-284_52_1` Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::baseos	All versions	`0:1-4.el9_2`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-284_52_1-debuginfo` Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::baseos	All versions	`0:1-4.el9_2`
`kpatch-patch-5_14_0-284_52_1-debugsource` Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.2::baseos	All versions	`0:1-4.el9_2`
`kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_40` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP3	All versions	`16-150300.2.1`
`kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_41` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP3	All versions	`15-150300.2.1`
`kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_22` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4	All versions	`14-150400.2.1`

Products include Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2024-36971?

Apply the vendor's patch. US federal agencies must fix it by 28 Aug 2024.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2024-36971 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2024-36971 in the wild since at least 7 Aug 2024.

Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.

All Debian Debian Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as A-343727534, ASB-A-343727534, AZL-42615, AZL-42622, BELL-CVE-2024-36971, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-36971 and 8 more.