# CVE-2024-40935: cachefiles: flush all requests after setting CACHEFILES_DEAD

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's cachefiles subsystem can cause a denial of service or potential code execution when the cache enters a dead state.

- **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:** 12 Jul 2024
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-40935, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-40935, GHSA-rqgv-9mjq-566p, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-40935

## What is CVE-2024-40935?

CVE-2024-40935 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 12 Jul 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:

cachefiles: flush all requests after setting CACHEFILES_DEAD

In ondemand mode, when the daemon is processing an open request, if the
kernel flags the cache as CACHEFILES_DEAD, the cachefiles_daemon_write()
will always return -EIO, so the daemon can't pass the copen to the kernel.
Then the kernel process that is waiting for the copen triggers a hung_task.

Since the DEAD state is irreversible, it can only be exited by closing
/dev/cachefiles. Therefore, after calling cachefiles_io_error() to mark
the cache as CACHEFILES_DEAD, if in ondemand mode, flush all requests to
avoid the above hungtask. We may still be able to read some of the cached
data before closing the fd of /dev/cachefiles.

Note that this relies on the patch that adds reference counting to the req,
otherwise it may UAF.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-40935?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-40935?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-40935 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-40935 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-2024-40935 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-40935 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 12 Jul 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-2024-40935 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-2024-40935/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40935/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-40935
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-40935
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-40935

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40935/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.