CVE-2024-44946: kcm: Serialise kcm_sendmsg() for the same socket.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
kcm: Serialise kcm_sendmsg() for the same socket.
syzkaller reported UAF in kcm_release(). [0]
The scenario is
1. Thread A builds a skb with MSG_MORE and sets kcm->seq_skb.
2. Thread A resumes building skb from kcm->seq_skb but is blocked
by sk_stream_wait_memory()
3. Thread B calls sendmsg() concurrently, finishes building kcm->seq_skb
and puts the skb to the write queue
4. Thread A faces an error and finally frees skb that is already in the
write queue
5. kcm_release() does double-free the skb in the write queue
When a thread is building a MSG_MORE skb, another thread must not touch it.
Let's add a per-sk mutex and serialise kcm_sendmsg().
[0]:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __skb_unlink include/linux/skbuff.h:2366 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __skb_dequeue include/linux/skbuff.h:2385 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __skb_queue_purge_reason include/linux/skbuff.h:3175 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __skb_queue_purge include/linux/skbuff.h:3181 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in kcm_release+0x170/0x4c8 net/kcm/kcmsock.c:1691
Read of size 8 at addr ffff0000ced0fc80 by task syz-executor329/6167
CPU: 1 PID: 6167 Comm: syz-executor329 Tainted: G B 6.8.0-rc5-syzkaller-g9abbc24128bc #0
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 01/25/2024
Call trace:
dump_backtrace+0x1b8/0x1e4 arch/arm64/kernel/stacktrace.c:291
show_stack+0x2c/0x3c arch/arm64/kernel/stacktrace.c:298
__dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:88 [inline]
dump_stack_lvl+0xd0/0x124 lib/dump_stack.c:106
print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:377 [inline]
print_report+0x178/0x518 mm/kasan/report.c:488
kasan_report+0xd8/0x138 mm/kasan/report.c:601
__asan_report_load8_noabort+0x20/0x2c mm/kasan/report_generic.c:381
__skb_unlink include/linux/skbuff.h:2366 [inline]
__skb_dequeue include/linux/skbuff.h:2385 [inline]
__skb_queue_purge_reason include/linux/skbuff.h:3175 [inline]
__skb_queue_purge include/linux/skbuff.h:3181 [inline]
kcm_release+0x170/0x4c8 net/kcm/kcmsock.c:1691
__sock_release net/socket.c:659 [inline]
sock_close+0xa4/0x1e8 net/socket.c:1421
__fput+0x30c/0x738 fs/file_table.c:376
____fput+0x20/0x30 fs/file_table.c:404
task_work_run+0x230/0x2e0 kernel/task_work.c:180
exit_task_work include/linux/task_work.h:38 [inline]
do_exit+0x618/0x1f64 kernel/exit.c:871
do_group_exit+0x194/0x22c kernel/exit.c:1020
get_signal+0x1500/0x15ec kernel/signal.c:2893
do_signal+0x23c/0x3b44 arch/arm64/kernel/signal.c:1249
do_notify_resume+0x74/0x1f4 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:148
exit_to_user_mode_prepare arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:169 [inline]
exit_to_user_mode arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:178 [inline]
el0_svc+0xac/0x168 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:713
el0t_64_sync_handler+0x84/0xfc arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:730
el0t_64_sync+0x190/0x194 arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:598
Allocated by task 6166:
kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline]
kasan_save_track+0x40/0x78 mm/kasan/common.c:68
kasan_save_alloc_info+0x70/0x84 mm/kasan/generic.c:626
unpoison_slab_object mm/kasan/common.c:314 [inline]
__kasan_slab_alloc+0x74/0x8c mm/kasan/common.c:340
kasan_slab_alloc include/linux/kasan.h:201 [inline]
slab_post_alloc_hook mm/slub.c:3813 [inline]
slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:3860 [inline]
kmem_cache_alloc_node+0x204/0x4c0 mm/slub.c:3903
__alloc_skb+0x19c/0x3d8 net/core/skbuff.c:641
alloc_skb include/linux/skbuff.h:1296 [inline]
kcm_sendmsg+0x1d3c/0x2124 net/kcm/kcmsock.c:783
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:745 [inline]
sock_sendmsg+0x220/0x2c0 net/socket.c:768
splice_to_socket+0x7cc/0xd58 fs/splice.c:889
do_splice_from fs/splice.c:941 [inline]
direct_splice_actor+0xec/0x1d8 fs/splice.c:1164
splice_direct_to_actor+0x438/0xa0c fs/splice.c:1108
do_splice_direct_actor
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-44946 is a Linux kernel memory-safety bug in KCM socket handling. Concurrent send operations on the same socket can corrupt packet-buffer ownership, leading to use-after-free and double-free behavior. The public record shows a kernel fix, but no CVSS score and no confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Schedule kernel remediation through normal security maintenance, with higher priority for shared Linux platforms. The issue is a real kernel memory-safety flaw, but the supplied evidence lacks CVSS scoring, confirmed exploitation, or a demonstrated remote attack path.
Technical view
The issue is in net/kcm/kcmsock.c: kcm_sendmsg() could let two threads manipulate kcm->seq_skb during MSG_MORE handling. One thread could enqueue an skb while another later frees it, causing kcm_release() to touch freed memory. The fix serializes kcm_sendmsg() with a per-socket mutex.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with KCM support available. The source shows local socket sendmsg paths and syzkaller discovery; it does not establish remote reachability, privilege impact, or exploitation in the wild.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle. The evidence is a syzkaller KASAN report and upstream stable kernel fixes. Treat exploit status as unconfirmed; do not assume weaponized public exploitation from these sources alone.
Researcher notes
The root condition is a race around MSG_MORE skb construction on the same KCM socket. The source describes UAF in kcm_release() after double ownership of an skb. Analysis should focus on kernel versions, backports, KCM availability, and whether local untrusted workloads can access this socket family.
Mitigation direction
Inventory Linux kernels against the affected versions in the CVE record.
Apply distro or upstream kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
Use Debian LTS advisories if running affected Debian LTS kernel packages.
Check vendor guidance for backported fixes on distribution kernels.
Prioritize shared, multi-user, or container hosts where untrusted local code may run.
Validation and detection
Confirm the running kernel package includes the relevant stable fix or vendor backport.
Check whether KCM support is enabled or loadable on exposed systems.
Verify asset inventory no longer reports CVE-2024-44946 after patching.
Review kernel and distro advisories for any package-specific fixed versions.
Monitor for kernel crash reports mentioning KCM, skb, KASAN, or kcm_release().
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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CVE-2024-44946 mapping review
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