# CVE-2024-49854: block, bfq: fix uaf for accessing waker_bfqq after splitting

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel BFQ scheduler allows attackers to potentially 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:** 21 Oct 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-50829, AZL-50850, GHSA-8qj8-qf9j-579x, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2024-49854, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-49854

## What is CVE-2024-49854?

CVE-2024-49854 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Oct 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:

block, bfq: fix uaf for accessing waker_bfqq after splitting

After commit 42c306ed7233 ("block, bfq: don't break merge chain in
bfq_split_bfqq()"), if the current procress is the last holder of bfqq,
the bfqq can be freed after bfq_split_bfqq(). Hence recored the bfqq and
then access bfqq->waker_bfqq may trigger UAF. What's more, the waker_bfqq
may in the merge chain of bfqq, hence just recored waker_bfqq is still
not safe.

Fix the problem by adding a helper bfq_waker_bfqq() to check if
bfqq->waker_bfqq is in the merge chain, and current procress is the only
holder.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-49854?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-49854?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-49854 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-49854 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-2024-49854 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-49854 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Oct 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-2024-49854 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-2024-49854/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49854/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-49854
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49854
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-49854

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49854/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.