# CVE-2024-56631: scsi: sg: Fix slab-use-after-free read in sg_release()

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SCSI generic driver allows local attackers to potentially execute 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:** 27 Dec 2024
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-55180, AZL-55229, BELL-CVE-2024-56631, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-56631, GHSA-jp72-5x8f-phqc, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-56631

## What is CVE-2024-56631?

CVE-2024-56631 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Dec 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:

scsi: sg: Fix slab-use-after-free read in sg_release()

Fix a use-after-free bug in sg_release(), detected by syzbot with KASAN:

BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in lock_release+0x151/0xa30
kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5838
__mutex_unlock_slowpath+0xe2/0x750 kernel/locking/mutex.c:912
sg_release+0x1f4/0x2e0 drivers/scsi/sg.c:407

In sg_release(), the function kref_put(&sfp->f_ref, sg_remove_sfp) is
called before releasing the open_rel_lock mutex. The kref_put() call may
decrement the reference count of sfp to zero, triggering its cleanup
through sg_remove_sfp(). This cleanup includes scheduling deferred work
via sg_remove_sfp_usercontext(), which ultimately frees sfp.

After kref_put(), sg_release() continues to unlock open_rel_lock and may
reference sfp or sdp. If sfp has already been freed, this results in a
slab-use-after-free error.

Move the kref_put(&sfp->f_ref, sg_remove_sfp) call after unlocking the
open_rel_lock mutex. This ensures:

 - No references to sfp or sdp occur after the reference count is
   decremented.

 - Cleanup functions such as sg_remove_sfp() and
   sg_remove_sfp_usercontext() can safely execute without impacting the
   mutex handling in sg_release().

The fix has been tested and validated by syzbot. This patch closes the
bug reported at the following syzkaller link and ensures proper
sequencing of resource cleanup and mutex operations, eliminating the
risk of use-after-free errors in sg_release().

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-56631?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-56631?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-56631 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-56631 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-2024-56631 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-56631 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Dec 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-2024-56631 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-2024-56631/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-56631/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-56631
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-56631
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-56631

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-56631/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.