Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux SMB client flaw can access session memory after that session begins shutting down. In affected kernels, reconnect activity could cause a crash or potentially compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The supplied version data is ambiguous, so organizations should confirm exposure using their Linux distributor’s advisory and kernel package records.
Executive priority
Prioritize prompt validation and patching, especially for servers or endpoints using SMB mounts. The 9.8 rating warrants urgent attention, but exposure is not universal and active exploitation is not established. Ask infrastructure teams to identify CIFS users, confirm vendor package status, and schedule supported kernel updates based on business criticality.
Technical view
CVE-2024-35861 is a potential use-after-free in cifs_signal_cifsd_for_reconnect(). The upstream correction skips CIFS sessions whose status is SES_EXITING, preventing reconnect signaling during teardown. CVSS 3.1 is 9.8 with network reachability and no privileges or user interaction, but the supplied sources do not establish practical exploitability or detailed trigger conditions.
Likely exposure
Potential exposure is limited to Linux systems running an affected kernel and using the SMB/CIFS client. Systems that never load or use the client are less likely exposed. The supplied affected-version entries lack clear range semantics and include commit identifiers, so package-level status must be verified with the relevant distribution or vendor.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation, public weaponization, or a reliable proof of concept. The CVSS vector indicates a potentially remote, unauthenticated path, but it does not prove that exploitation is practical. Treat the reported severity seriously while validating actual SMB client use and vendor applicability.
Researcher notes
The disclosed defect is a teardown-versus-reconnect lifetime error involving sessions marked SES_EXITING. The fix’s narrow guard supports the use-after-free diagnosis, but the bundle does not document attacker-controlled inputs, race reliability, crash traces, or exploitation primitives. Avoid inferring code execution solely from the CVSS impacts. Distribution backports may make upstream version strings unreliable indicators.
Mitigation direction
- Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the referenced upstream fix.
- Prioritize SMB/CIFS client systems handling sensitive data or untrusted network connections.
- Consult the Linux distributor’s advisory because the supplied affected-version boundaries are ambiguous.
- Where updating is delayed, reduce unnecessary SMB client use and restrict SMB connectivity according to operational requirements.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel versions across Linux systems.
- Identify systems that load or actively use the SMB/CIFS client.
- Confirm the installed kernel package includes a referenced fix or vendor backport.
- Reboot into the corrected kernel where the package update requires it.
- Verify the running kernel and SMB functionality after maintenance.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2024-35861 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7e8360ac8774e19b0b25f44fff84a105bb2417e4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2cfff21732132e363b4cc275d63ea98f1af726c1CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f9a96a7ad1e8d25dc6662bc7552e0752de74a20dCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0e50401cc3921c9eaf1b0e667db174519ea939fCVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.