In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
af_unix: Clear stale u->oob_skb.
syzkaller started to report deadlock of unix_gc_lock after commit
4090fa373f0e ("af_unix: Replace garbage collection algorithm."), but
it just uncovers the bug that has been there since commit 314001f0bf92
("af_unix: Add OOB support").
The repro basically does the following.
from socket import *
from array import array
c1, c2 = socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM)
c1.sendmsg([b'a'], [(SOL_SOCKET, SCM_RIGHTS, array("i", [c2.fileno()]))], MSG_OOB)
c2.recv(1) # blocked as no normal data in recv queue
c2.close() # done async and unblock recv()
c1.close() # done async and trigger GC
A socket sends its file descriptor to itself as OOB data and tries to
receive normal data, but finally recv() fails due to async close().
The problem here is wrong handling of OOB skb in manage_oob(). When
recvmsg() is called without MSG_OOB, manage_oob() is called to check
if the peeked skb is OOB skb. In such a case, manage_oob() pops it
out of the receive queue but does not clear unix_sock(sk)->oob_skb.
This is wrong in terms of uAPI.
Let's say we send "hello" with MSG_OOB, and "world" without MSG_OOB.
The 'o' is handled as OOB data. When recv() is called twice without
MSG_OOB, the OOB data should be lost.
>>> from socket import *
>>> c1, c2 = socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0)
>>> c1.send(b'hello', MSG_OOB) # 'o' is OOB data
5
>>> c1.send(b'world')
5
>>> c2.recv(5) # OOB data is not received
b'hell'
>>> c2.recv(5) # OOB date is skipped
b'world'
>>> c2.recv(5, MSG_OOB) # This should return an error
b'o'
In the same situation, TCP actually returns -EINVAL for the last
recv().
Also, if we do not clear unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb, unix_poll() always set
EPOLLPRI even though the data has passed through by previous recv().
To avoid these issues, we must clear unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb when dequeuing
it from recv queue.
The reason why the old GC did not trigger the deadlock is because the
old GC relied on the receive queue to detect the loop.
When it is triggered, the socket with OOB data is marked as GC candidate
because file refcount == inflight count (1). However, after traversing
all inflight sockets, the socket still has a positive inflight count (1),
thus the socket is excluded from candidates. Then, the old GC lose the
chance to garbage-collect the socket.
With the old GC, the repro continues to create true garbage that will
never be freed nor detected by kmemleak as it's linked to the global
inflight list. That's why we couldn't even notice the issue.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel flaw mishandles out-of-band data on Unix domain stream sockets, leaving stale kernel state. A local authenticated actor or workload could potentially affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability at low impact levels. The CVE is not listed as KEV, and the provided sources do not show real-world exploitation.
Executive priority
Schedule remediation in normal high-priority kernel maintenance, faster for shared or multi-tenant Linux infrastructure. Business urgency is moderate because impact is limited, but kernel flaws can affect broad infrastructure once local execution exists.
Technical view
The af_unix code failed to clear unix_sock(sk)->oob_skb when dequeuing OOB data during non-MSG_OOB recvmsg handling. This caused incorrect API behavior, persistent EPOLLPRI signaling, and garbage-collection issues exposed by syzkaller after a GC algorithm change. Stable kernel commits address the stale pointer/state cleanup.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant on Linux systems running affected kernel versions or branches with AF_UNIX OOB support, especially shared hosts, multi-user servers, and container platforms where untrusted workloads share the host kernel.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes a syzkaller-triggered reproducer and kernel logic flaw. It does not cite public exploitation in the wild. KEV is false, so treat this as a patching and exposure-management issue rather than confirmed active attack activity.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on AF_UNIX OOB handling and whether stable fixes are backported by the distribution. The provided record has no CWE and incomplete product granularity, so rely on vendor kernel advisories for precise affected and fixed package ranges.
Mitigation direction
Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
Prioritize shared Linux hosts and container platforms with untrusted workloads.
Reboot systems so the fixed kernel is actually running.
Track distribution advisories for exact package names and fixed builds.
Limit untrusted local execution where patching is delayed.
Validation and detection
Inventory running Linux kernel versions across servers and container hosts.
Confirm vendor advisories map installed packages to CVE-2024-35970 fixes.
Verify the active booted kernel after maintenance reboot.
Check vulnerability scanner results for stale kernel package detections.
Review whether exposed systems allow untrusted local users or workloads.
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
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CVE-2024-35970 mapping review
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