# CVE-2024-46786: fscache: delete fscache_cookie_lru_timer when fscache exits to avoid UAF

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel fscache module can cause a system crash when the module is removed.

- **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:** 18 Sep 2024
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-46786, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-46786, GHSA-fvcf-hj7v-3mj6, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2024-46786, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-46786

## What is CVE-2024-46786?

CVE-2024-46786 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Sep 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:

fscache: delete fscache_cookie_lru_timer when fscache exits to avoid UAF

The fscache_cookie_lru_timer is initialized when the fscache module
is inserted, but is not deleted when the fscache module is removed.
If timer_reduce() is called before removing the fscache module,
the fscache_cookie_lru_timer will be added to the timer list of
the current cpu. Afterwards, a use-after-free will be triggered
in the softIRQ after removing the fscache module, as follows:

==================================================================
BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: fffffbfff803c9e9
 PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
 PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page
PGD 21ffea067 P4D 21ffea067 PUD 21ffe6067 PMD 110a7c067 PTE 0
Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN PTI
CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/1 Tainted: G W 6.11.0-rc3 #855
Tainted: [W]=WARN
RIP: 0010:__run_timer_base.part.0+0x254/0x8a0
Call Trace:
 <IRQ>
 tmigr_handle_remote_up+0x627/0x810
 __walk_groups.isra.0+0x47/0x140
 tmigr_handle_remote+0x1fa/0x2f0
 handle_softirqs+0x180/0x590
 irq_exit_rcu+0x84/0xb0
 sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x6e/0x90
 </IRQ>
 <TASK>
 asm_sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x1a/0x20
RIP: 0010:default_idle+0xf/0x20
 default_idle_call+0x38/0x60
 do_idle+0x2b5/0x300
 cpu_startup_entry+0x54/0x60
 start_secondary+0x20d/0x280
 common_startup_64+0x13e/0x148
 </TASK>
Modules linked in: [last unloaded: netfs]
==================================================================

Therefore delete fscache_cookie_lru_timer when removing the fscahe module.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-46786?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-46786?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-46786 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-46786 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-2024-46786 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-46786 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Sep 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-2024-46786 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-2024-46786/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-46786/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-46786
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-46786
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-46786

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-46786/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.