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CVE Record

CVE-2024-35910: tcp: properly terminate timers for kernel sockets

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: properly terminate timers for kernel sockets We had various syzbot reports about tcp timers firing after the corresponding netns has been dismantled. Fortunately Josef Bacik could trigger the issue more often, and could test a patch I wrote two years ago. When TCP sockets are closed, we call inet_csk_clear_xmit_timers() to 'stop' the timers. inet_csk_clear_xmit_timers() can be called from any context, including when socket lock is held. This is the reason it uses sk_stop_timer(), aka del_timer(). This means that ongoing timers might finish much later. For user sockets, this is fine because each running timer holds a reference on the socket, and the user socket holds a reference on the netns. For kernel sockets, we risk that the netns is freed before timer can complete, because kernel sockets do not hold reference on the netns. This patch adds inet_csk_clear_xmit_timers_sync() function that using sk_stop_timer_sync() to make sure all timers are terminated before the kernel socket is released. Modules using kernel sockets close them in their netns exit() handler. Also add sock_not_owned_by_me() helper to get LOCKDEP support : inet_csk_clear_xmit_timers_sync() must not be called while socket lock is held. It is very possible we can revert in the future commit 3a58f13a881e ("net: rds: acquire refcount on TCP sockets") which attempted to solve the issue in rds only. (net/smc/af_smc.c and net/mptcp/subflow.c have similar code) We probably can remove the check_net() tests from tcp_out_of_resources() and __tcp_close() in the future.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux TCP cleanup race can leave a timer running after its network namespace has been dismantled. A later timer callback could access already-freed namespace state, potentially compromising the host. The supplied CVSS rates possible confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts as high, but the evidence does not establish active exploitation or a reliable attack technique.

Executive priority

Treat this as an urgent kernel-maintenance issue rather than a confirmed incident. Accelerate remediation on multi-tenant, container-heavy, and locally accessible hosts. Normal patch prioritization may be appropriate for tightly controlled systems, but validate exact vendor exposure because the supplied version representation is incomplete.

Technical view

TCP socket closure used asynchronous timer deletion, which may return while a callback is still executing. User sockets retain a network-namespace reference, but kernel sockets do not. During namespace teardown, this creates a lifetime race. The upstream fix synchronously terminates kernel-socket timers before release and adds a lock-ownership check for safe use.

Likely exposure

Systems running affected Linux kernel builds are candidates, especially when modules use kernel TCP sockets and network namespaces are frequently destroyed. The supplied CVSS requires local, low-privileged access; network access alone is insufficient. Because the bundled version data is ambiguous, determine exposure through distribution advisories, installed package versions, and referenced stable fixes.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources do not report active exploitation. The issue was observed through syzbot reports and reproducible kernel testing. Exploitation feasibility, reliability, and required module or namespace conditions are not established by this source bundle.

Researcher notes

The critical invariant is that TCP timers for kernel sockets must finish before their socket and network namespace are released. Synchronous cancellation cannot occur while holding the socket lock. The supplied evidence does not identify a CWE, reliable exploitation primitive, public proof of concept, or all module-specific preconditions.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a distribution-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream stable fix.
  • Reboot after updating, then confirm the corrected kernel is actively running.
  • If immediate patching is unavailable, obtain product-specific compensating guidance from the Linux or appliance vendor.
  • Prioritize multi-tenant systems and hosts permitting untrusted users to execute local code.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel and distribution package versions across Linux systems.
  • Compare each package against distribution advisories and the referenced stable fix for its kernel branch.
  • Identify workloads or modules using kernel TCP sockets alongside network-namespace teardown.
  • Confirm updated systems were rebooted and are running the intended fixed kernel.
  • Review kernel crash and namespace-related logs for anomalies, while recognizing these cannot prove exploitation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

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

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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-2024-35910 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
3ADP providers
13Source links

SSVC decision data

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

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux
5.8CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H14.7CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-35910Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

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

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe, 26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe, 26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe, 26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe, 26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe, 26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe, 26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886fe, 26abe14379f8e2fa3fd1bcf97c9a7ad9364886feunaffected
LinuxLinux4.2, 0, 4.19.312, 5.4.274, 5.10.215, 5.15.154, 6.1.85, 6.6.26, 6.8.5, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.