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CVE Record

CVE-2024-36904: tcp: Use refcount_inc_not_zero() in tcp_twsk_unique().

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: Use refcount_inc_not_zero() in tcp_twsk_unique(). Anderson Nascimento reported a use-after-free splat in tcp_twsk_unique() with nice analysis. Since commit ec94c2696f0b ("tcp/dccp: avoid one atomic operation for timewait hashdance"), inet_twsk_hashdance() sets TIME-WAIT socket's sk_refcnt after putting it into ehash and releasing the bucket lock. Thus, there is a small race window where other threads could try to reuse the port during connect() and call sock_hold() in tcp_twsk_unique() for the TIME-WAIT socket with zero refcnt. If that happens, the refcnt taken by tcp_twsk_unique() is overwritten and sock_put() will cause underflow, triggering a real use-after-free somewhere else. To avoid the use-after-free, we need to use refcount_inc_not_zero() in tcp_twsk_unique() and give up on reusing the port if it returns false. [0]: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 1039313 at lib/refcount.c:25 refcount_warn_saturate+0xe5/0x110 CPU: 0 PID: 1039313 Comm: trigger Not tainted 6.8.6-200.fc39.x86_64 #1 Hardware name: VMware, Inc. VMware20,1/440BX Desktop Reference Platform, BIOS VMW201.00V.21805430.B64.2305221830 05/22/2023 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xe5/0x110 Code: 42 8e ff 0f 0b c3 cc cc cc cc 80 3d aa 13 ea 01 00 0f 85 5e ff ff ff 48 c7 c7 f8 8e b7 82 c6 05 96 13 ea 01 01 e8 7b 42 8e ff <0f> 0b c3 cc cc cc cc 48 c7 c7 50 8f b7 82 c6 05 7a 13 ea 01 01 e8 RSP: 0018:ffffc90006b43b60 EFLAGS: 00010282 RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff888009bb3ef0 RCX: 0000000000000027 RDX: ffff88807be218c8 RSI: 0000000000000001 RDI: ffff88807be218c0 RBP: 0000000000069d70 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: ffffc90006b439f0 R10: ffffc90006b439e8 R11: 0000000000000003 R12: ffff8880029ede84 R13: 0000000000004e20 R14: ffffffff84356dc0 R15: ffff888009bb3ef0 FS: 00007f62c10926c0(0000) GS:ffff88807be00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000020ccb000 CR3: 000000004628c005 CR4: 0000000000f70ef0 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: <TASK> ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xe5/0x110 ? __warn+0x81/0x130 ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xe5/0x110 ? report_bug+0x171/0x1a0 ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xe5/0x110 ? handle_bug+0x3c/0x80 ? exc_invalid_op+0x17/0x70 ? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x1a/0x20 ? refcount_warn_saturate+0xe5/0x110 tcp_twsk_unique+0x186/0x190 __inet_check_established+0x176/0x2d0 __inet_hash_connect+0x74/0x7d0 ? __pfx___inet_check_established+0x10/0x10 tcp_v4_connect+0x278/0x530 __inet_stream_connect+0x10f/0x3d0 inet_stream_connect+0x3a/0x60 __sys_connect+0xa8/0xd0 __x64_sys_connect+0x18/0x20 do_syscall_64+0x83/0x170 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x78/0x80 RIP: 0033:0x7f62c11a885d Code: ff c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 90 f3 0f 1e fa 48 89 f8 48 89 f7 48 89 d6 48 89 ca 4d 89 c2 4d 89 c8 4c 8b 4c 24 08 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 8b 0d a3 45 0c 00 f7 d8 64 89 01 48 RSP: 002b:00007f62c1091e58 EFLAGS: 00000296 ORIG_RAX: 000000000000002a RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000020ccb004 RCX: 00007f62c11a885d RDX: 0000000000000010 RSI: 0000000020ccb000 RDI: 0000000000000003 RBP: 00007f62c1091e90 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000296 R12: 00007f62c10926c0 R13: ffffffffffffff88 R14: 0000000000000000 R15: 00007ffe237885b0 </TASK>

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-36904 is a Linux kernel networking bug that can cause a use-after-free during TCP connection handling. The public record shows it is fixed in Linux stable branches. There is no KEV listing and no cited evidence of active exploitation. Treat it as a kernel update priority for Linux servers and embedded products using affected kernels.

Executive priority

Schedule remediation through normal kernel patch cycles, with faster handling for critical Linux infrastructure and appliances. The issue is real kernel memory corruption, but public sources do not show active exploitation or a named emergency workaround.

Technical view

The flaw is a race in tcp_twsk_unique() involving TIME-WAIT socket reference counts after inet_twsk_hashdance(). A competing connect() path can take a reference when the count is zero, leading to refcount underflow and use-after-free elsewhere. The fix uses refcount_inc_not_zero() and gives up port reuse when the reference cannot be safely taken.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely on systems running Linux kernels that include the vulnerable TCP TIME-WAIT handling code. The source bundle lists Linux as affected and provides multiple stable kernel fix commits. Downstream exposure depends on distribution, appliance, or vendor kernel backports, so version strings alone may not be conclusive.

Exploitation context

The bug is triggered through a timing race in TCP connect and port reuse behavior. The sources include a kernel warning trace from a trigger process, but do not provide public exploit status, CVSS, or impact beyond use-after-free. It is not listed as CISA KEV in the supplied data.

Researcher notes

Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the sources. The public fix identifies a narrow race in tcp_twsk_unique() and reference handling for TIME-WAIT sockets. Validation should focus on patch presence or vendor backport confirmation, not only upstream version numbers.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel updates from your distribution or product vendor.
  • Prioritize internet-facing and high-connection-rate Linux systems.
  • For appliances, follow NetApp, Siemens, or other vendor advisories where applicable.
  • If updates are unavailable, ask the vendor for supported mitigation guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and vendor kernel package revisions.
  • Check whether the relevant stable fix commit is included or backported.
  • Review Debian LTS and product advisories for affected deployed platforms.
  • Monitor kernel logs for refcount warnings or TCP-related use-after-free reports.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

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

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-2024-36904 mapping review

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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
3ADP providers
15Source 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

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

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2d, ec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2d, ec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2d, ec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2d, ec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2d, ec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2d, ec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2d, ec94c2696f0bcd5ae92a553244e4ac30d2171a2dunaffected
LinuxLinux4.16, 0, 4.19.314, 5.4.276, 5.10.217, 5.15.159, 6.1.91, 6.6.31, 6.8.10, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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