# CVE-2024-49903: jfs: Fix uaf in dbFreeBits

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's JFS filesystem allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-51330, BELL-CVE-2024-49903, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-49903, GHSA-rgx3-g7m3-gj3j, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-49903

## What is CVE-2024-49903?

CVE-2024-49903 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:

jfs: Fix uaf in dbFreeBits

[syzbot reported]
==================================================================
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __mutex_lock_common kernel/locking/mutex.c:587 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __mutex_lock+0xfe/0xd70 kernel/locking/mutex.c:752
Read of size 8 at addr ffff8880229254b0 by task syz-executor357/5216

CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 5216 Comm: syz-executor357 Not tainted 6.11.0-rc3-syzkaller-00156-gd7a5aa4b3c00 #0
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 06/27/2024
Call Trace:
 <TASK>
 __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:93 [inline]
 dump_stack_lvl+0x241/0x360 lib/dump_stack.c:119
 print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:377 [inline]
 print_report+0x169/0x550 mm/kasan/report.c:488
 kasan_report+0x143/0x180 mm/kasan/report.c:601
 __mutex_lock_common kernel/locking/mutex.c:587 [inline]
 __mutex_lock+0xfe/0xd70 kernel/locking/mutex.c:752
 dbFreeBits+0x7ea/0xd90 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:2390
 dbFreeDmap fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:2089 [inline]
 dbFree+0x35b/0x680 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:409
 dbDiscardAG+0x8a9/0xa20 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:1650
 jfs_ioc_trim+0x433/0x670 fs/jfs/jfs_discard.c:100
 jfs_ioctl+0x2d0/0x3e0 fs/jfs/ioctl.c:131
 vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:51 [inline]
 __do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:907 [inline]
 __se_sys_ioctl+0xfc/0x170 fs/ioctl.c:893
 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
 do_syscall_64+0xf3/0x230 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83

Freed by task 5218:
 kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline]
 kasan_save_track+0x3f/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68
 kasan_save_free_info+0x40/0x50 mm/kasan/generic.c:579
 poison_slab_object+0xe0/0x150 mm/kasan/common.c:240
 __kasan_slab_free+0x37/0x60 mm/kasan/common.c:256
 kasan_slab_free include/linux/kasan.h:184 [inline]
 slab_free_hook mm/slub.c:2252 [inline]
 slab_free mm/slub.c:4473 [inline]
 kfree+0x149/0x360 mm/slub.c:4594
 dbUnmount+0x11d/0x190 fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c:278
 jfs_mount_rw+0x4ac/0x6a0 fs/jfs/jfs_mount.c:247
 jfs_remount+0x3d1/0x6b0 fs/jfs/super.c:454
 reconfigure_super+0x445/0x880 fs/super.c:1083
 vfs_cmd_reconfigure fs/fsopen.c:263 [inline]
 vfs_fsconfig_locked fs/fsopen.c:292 [inline]
 __do_sys_fsconfig fs/fsopen.c:473 [inline]
 __se_sys_fsconfig+0xb6e/0xf80 fs/fsopen.c:345
 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
 do_syscall_64+0xf3/0x230 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83
 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

[Analysis]
There are two paths (dbUnmount and jfs_ioc_trim) that generate race
condition when accessing bmap, which leads to the occurrence of uaf.

Use the lock s_umount to synchronize them, in order to avoid uaf caused
by race condition.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-49903?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-49903?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-49903 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-49903 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-2024-49903 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-49903 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-2024-49903 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-2024-49903/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49903/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-49903
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49903
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-49903

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49903/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.
