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CVE Record

CVE-2024-43882: exec: Fix ToCToU between perm check and set-uid/gid usage

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exec: Fix ToCToU between perm check and set-uid/gid usage When opening a file for exec via do_filp_open(), permission checking is done against the file's metadata at that moment, and on success, a file pointer is passed back. Much later in the execve() code path, the file metadata (specifically mode, uid, and gid) is used to determine if/how to set the uid and gid. However, those values may have changed since the permissions check, meaning the execution may gain unintended privileges. For example, if a file could change permissions from executable and not set-id: ---------x 1 root root 16048 Aug 7 13:16 target to set-id and non-executable: ---S------ 1 root root 16048 Aug 7 13:16 target it is possible to gain root privileges when execution should have been disallowed. While this race condition is rare in real-world scenarios, it has been observed (and proven exploitable) when package managers are updating the setuid bits of installed programs. Such files start with being world-executable but then are adjusted to be group-exec with a set-uid bit. For example, "chmod o-x,u+s target" makes "target" executable only by uid "root" and gid "cdrom", while also becoming setuid-root: -rwxr-xr-x 1 root cdrom 16048 Aug 7 13:16 target becomes: -rwsr-xr-- 1 root cdrom 16048 Aug 7 13:16 target But racing the chmod means users without group "cdrom" membership can get the permission to execute "target" just before the chmod, and when the chmod finishes, the exec reaches brpm_fill_uid(), and performs the setuid to root, violating the expressed authorization of "only cdrom group members can setuid to root". Re-check that we still have execute permissions in case the metadata has changed. It would be better to keep a copy from the perm-check time, but until we can do that refactoring, the least-bad option is to do a full inode_permission() call (under inode lock). It is understood that this is safe against dead-locks, but hardly optimal.

HighCVSS 8.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-43882 is a Linux kernel flaw where a program’s permissions can change between the execution permission check and later setuid/setgid handling. In a narrow race, a local user may execute a file just before permissions tighten and still receive elevated privileges afterward.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority for shared Linux servers, developer hosts, and managed appliances with local user access. It is not a remote network-entry issue, but successful exploitation could turn ordinary local access into root privileges.

Technical view

The bug is a CWE-367 time-of-check/time-of-use issue in the Linux exec path. do_filp_open() validates execute permission, but later execve() logic uses potentially changed inode mode, uid, and gid to decide setuid/setgid behavior. The fix re-checks execute permission under the inode lock before applying privilege changes.

Likely exposure

Exposure is mainly Linux systems where local untrusted users can run processes, especially during package or permission updates involving setuid programs. The supplied affected data names Linux kernels and downstream advisories, but exact exposure should be determined from vendor backports rather than version strings alone.

Exploitation context

The source states the race is rare in real-world scenarios but proven exploitable when package managers update setuid bits. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no supplied source states active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

The important validation question is whether the vendor kernel includes the exec permission re-check fix, not whether the upstream version number appears vulnerable. The source bundle does not provide safe reproduction details, active exploitation evidence, or a universal mitigation other than applying vendor fixes.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply kernel updates from the operating system or appliance vendor.
  • Prioritize multi-user servers and systems allowing untrusted local code execution.
  • Check Debian LTS and vendor advisories for fixed package availability.
  • For embedded or appliance systems, follow the vendor advisory rather than upstream versions alone.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running Linux kernel versions across servers, containers, and appliances.
  • Confirm vendor security updates containing the CVE-2024-43882 fix are installed.
  • Review package-management workflows on systems with local users and setuid binaries.
  • Track exceptions where vendor advisories are pending or fixes are not yet available.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-367: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2024-43882 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
3ADP providers
14Source links

SSVC decision data

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

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

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
8.4CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.55.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.4High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-43882Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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
LinuxLinux9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21, 9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21, 9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21, 9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21, 9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21, 9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21, 9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21, 9167b0b9a0ab7907191523f5a0528e3b9c288e21unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.18, 0, 4.19.320, 5.4.282, 5.10.224, 5.15.165, 6.1.106, 6.6.47, 6.10.6, 6.11affected
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-367 · source CWE mapping

Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition

Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.