# CVE-2024-44986: ipv6: fix possible UAF in ip6_finish_output2()

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel IPv6 stack allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 4 Sep 2024
- **Updated:** 29 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-48611, AZL-48686, BELL-CVE-2024-44986, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-44986, GHSA-x53w-73fx-jmfj, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2024-44986, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-44986

## What is CVE-2024-44986?

CVE-2024-44986 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 4 Sep 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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

ipv6: fix possible UAF in ip6_finish_output2()

If skb_expand_head() returns NULL, skb has been freed
and associated dst/idev could also have been freed.

We need to hold rcu_read_lock() to make sure the dst and
associated idev are alive.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-44986?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-44986?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-44986 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-44986 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-44986 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-44986 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 4 Sep 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-44986 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2024-44986/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44986/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-44986
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-44986
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-44986

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44986/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.