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CVE Record

CVE-2024-38596: af_unix: Fix data races in unix_release_sock/unix_stream_sendmsg

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Fix data races in unix_release_sock/unix_stream_sendmsg A data-race condition has been identified in af_unix. In one data path, the write function unix_release_sock() atomically writes to sk->sk_shutdown using WRITE_ONCE. However, on the reader side, unix_stream_sendmsg() does not read it atomically. Consequently, this issue is causing the following KCSAN splat to occur: BUG: KCSAN: data-race in unix_release_sock / unix_stream_sendmsg write (marked) to 0xffff88867256ddbb of 1 bytes by task 7270 on cpu 28: unix_release_sock (net/unix/af_unix.c:640) unix_release (net/unix/af_unix.c:1050) sock_close (net/socket.c:659 net/socket.c:1421) __fput (fs/file_table.c:422) __fput_sync (fs/file_table.c:508) __se_sys_close (fs/open.c:1559 fs/open.c:1541) __x64_sys_close (fs/open.c:1541) x64_sys_call (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:33) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/common.c:?) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:130) read to 0xffff88867256ddbb of 1 bytes by task 989 on cpu 14: unix_stream_sendmsg (net/unix/af_unix.c:2273) __sock_sendmsg (net/socket.c:730 net/socket.c:745) ____sys_sendmsg (net/socket.c:2584) __sys_sendmmsg (net/socket.c:2638 net/socket.c:2724) __x64_sys_sendmmsg (net/socket.c:2753 net/socket.c:2750 net/socket.c:2750) x64_sys_call (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:33) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/common.c:?) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:130) value changed: 0x01 -> 0x03 The line numbers are related to commit dd5a440a31fa ("Linux 6.9-rc7"). Commit e1d09c2c2f57 ("af_unix: Fix data races around sk->sk_shutdown.") addressed a comparable issue in the past regarding sk->sk_shutdown. However, it overlooked resolving this particular data path. This patch only offending unix_stream_sendmsg() function, since the other reads seem to be protected by unix_state_lock() as discussed in

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-38596 is a Linux kernel data-race bug in Unix domain socket handling. The public record describes a concurrency issue found by KCSAN and resolved in kernel stable commits. There is no CVSS score in the bundle and no KEV listing, so business urgency should be driven by kernel exposure and vendor patch status.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel hygiene and exposure-management item, not an emergency based on the available evidence. Prioritize internet-facing infrastructure only if local untrusted workloads are present; otherwise fold into the next approved kernel patch cycle.

Technical view

The flaw is in af_unix: unix_release_sock() writes sk->sk_shutdown atomically, while unix_stream_sendmsg() read the same byte without the matching atomic read. The reported race occurs during socket close and sendmsg/sendmmsg paths. Kernel stable commits adjust unix_stream_sendmsg(); other reads were described as protected by unix_state_lock().

Likely exposure

Systems running Linux kernels or downstream products that include the affected af_unix code may be exposed. The bundle lists Linux as affected across multiple kernel lines, but exact distro impact depends on vendor backports and shipped kernel builds.

Exploitation context

No source in the bundle states active exploitation, public weaponization, or KEV inclusion. The evidence shows a kernel concurrency flaw detected by KCSAN and fixed upstream; real-world impact is not quantified in the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The public description is specific about the race location but incomplete on exploitability and impact. Validation should focus on whether the vendor kernel contains the af_unix fix commits or equivalent backports. Avoid assuming privilege escalation or denial of service without additional vendor evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, appliances, containers, and embedded products.
  • Check distribution and vendor advisories for CVE-2024-38596-specific fixed kernel packages.
  • Prioritize kernel updates where exposed systems process untrusted local workloads.
  • Review Debian LTS and device vendor advisories for applicable patched builds.
  • Schedule reboots or live-patching steps according to normal kernel maintenance policy.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm the running kernel version and vendor package release on each asset.
  • Map installed kernels to vendor advisories, not only upstream version numbers.
  • Verify whether upstream stable fixes are included or backported by the vendor.
  • Track exceptions for appliances or embedded products pending vendor firmware updates.
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-2024-38596 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
14Source 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

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.12, 0, 4.19.316, 5.4.278, 5.10.219, 5.15.161, 6.1.93, 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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