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CVE-2024-26703: tracing/timerlat: Move hrtimer_init to timerlat_fd open()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing/timerlat: Move hrtimer_init to timerlat_fd open() Currently, the timerlat's hrtimer is initialized at the first read of timerlat_fd, and destroyed at close(). It works, but it causes an error if the user program open() and close() the file without reading. Here's an example: # echo NO_OSNOISE_WORKLOAD > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/osnoise/options # echo timerlat > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/current_tracer # cat <<EOF > ./timerlat_load.py # !/usr/bin/env python3 timerlat_fd = open("/sys/kernel/tracing/osnoise/per_cpu/cpu0/timerlat_fd", 'r') timerlat_fd.close(); EOF # ./taskset -c 0 ./timerlat_load.py <BOOM> BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI CPU: 1 PID: 2673 Comm: python3 Not tainted 6.6.13-200.fc39.x86_64 #1 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-1.fc39 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:hrtimer_active+0xd/0x50 Code: 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 0f 1f 40 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 f3 0f 1e fa 0f 1f 44 00 00 48 8b 57 30 <8b> 42 10 a8 01 74 09 f3 90 8b 42 10 a8 01 75 f7 80 7f 38 00 75 1d RSP: 0018:ffffb031009b7e10 EFLAGS: 00010286 RAX: 000000000002db00 RBX: ffff9118f786db08 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: ffff9117a0e64400 RDI: ffff9118f786db08 RBP: ffff9118f786db80 R08: ffff9117a0ddd420 R09: ffff9117804d4f70 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: ffff9118f786db08 R13: ffff91178fdd5e20 R14: ffff9117840978c0 R15: 0000000000000000 FS: 00007f2ffbab1740(0000) GS:ffff9118f7840000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000000000010 CR3: 00000001b402e000 CR4: 0000000000750ee0 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> ? __die+0x23/0x70 ? page_fault_oops+0x171/0x4e0 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f ? avc_has_extended_perms+0x237/0x520 ? exc_page_fault+0x7f/0x180 ? asm_exc_page_fault+0x26/0x30 ? hrtimer_active+0xd/0x50 hrtimer_cancel+0x15/0x40 timerlat_fd_release+0x48/0xe0 __fput+0xf5/0x290 __x64_sys_close+0x3d/0x80 do_syscall_64+0x60/0x90 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f ? __x64_sys_ioctl+0x72/0xd0 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f ? syscall_exit_to_user_mode+0x2b/0x40 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f ? do_syscall_64+0x6c/0x90 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f ? exit_to_user_mode_prepare+0x142/0x1f0 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f ? syscall_exit_to_user_mode+0x2b/0x40 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f ? do_syscall_64+0x6c/0x90 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8 RIP: 0033:0x7f2ffb321594 Code: 00 f7 d8 64 89 01 48 83 c8 ff c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 90 f3 0f 1e fa 80 3d d5 cd 0d 00 00 74 13 b8 03 00 00 00 0f 05 <48> 3d 00 f0 ff ff 77 3c c3 0f 1f 00 55 48 89 e5 48 83 ec 10 89 7d RSP: 002b:00007ffe8d8eef18 EFLAGS: 00000202 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000003 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 00007f2ffba4e668 RCX: 00007f2ffb321594 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: 0000000000000003 RBP: 00007ffe8d8eef40 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 55c926e3167eae79 R11: 0000000000000202 R12: 0000000000000003 R13: 00007ffe8d8ef030 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: 00007f2ffba4e668 </TASK> CR2: 0000000000000010 ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Move hrtimer_init to timerlat_fd open() to avoid this problem.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel tracing bug can crash the kernel when the timer latency tracing file is opened and closed without being read. The public record shows a NULL pointer dereference and kernel oops. This is mainly a local reliability risk, not a proven remote compromise issue.

Executive priority

Treat this as a patching and hardening item for Linux fleet reliability. It is not documented as actively exploited, but affected systems may be crashable by local access to a specialized tracing interface.

Technical view

The timerlat tracer initialized its high-resolution timer on first read but destroyed it on close. Closing timerlat_fd before any read could call hrtimer_cancel on an uninitialized timer, causing a NULL pointer dereference. The fix moves hrtimer_init to timerlat_fd open().

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems with the timerlat/osnoise tracing interface present and accessible through tracefs/debugfs. The source does not specify required privileges or distribution package status. Listed affected kernel versions include 6.5, 6.6.18, 6.7.6, and 6.8.

Exploitation context

The CVE record includes a local crash scenario using the tracing timerlat_fd interface. There is no KEV listing and no cited evidence of active exploitation. The source supports denial-of-service style kernel crash impact, not privilege escalation or remote execution.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: the public record documents a NULL pointer dereference in timerlat_fd release when close occurs before read. Validate exposure by kernel version, tracing configuration, and access controls. Do not assume remote reachability from the CVE text alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced upstream stable fixes.
  • Restrict tracefs/debugfs tracing access to trusted administrators.
  • Review distro advisories for package-specific fixed kernel versions.
  • Temporarily avoid timerlat/osnoise tracing on unpatched systems where feasible.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts and record kernel versions against vendor advisories.
  • Check whether tracefs/debugfs tracing interfaces are mounted and accessible.
  • Confirm updated kernels include the referenced timerlat_fd hrtimer initialization fix.
  • Prioritize validation on systems exposing tracing access to non-administrative workloads.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

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other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxe88ed227f639ebcb31ed4e5b88756b47d904584b, e88ed227f639ebcb31ed4e5b88756b47d904584b, e88ed227f639ebcb31ed4e5b88756b47d904584bunaffected
LinuxLinux6.5, 0, 6.6.18, 6.7.6, 6.8affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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