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CVE Record

CVE-2024-44985: ipv6: prevent possible UAF in ip6_xmit()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: prevent possible UAF in ip6_xmit() If skb_expand_head() returns NULL, skb has been freed and the associated dst/idev could also have been freed. We must use rcu_read_lock() to prevent a possible UAF.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel IPv6 transmission flaw can leave networking code referencing memory that has already been freed. The supplied CVSS assessment rates potential confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact as critical. Actual exposure depends on the running kernel and whether its vendor package contains the upstream correction.

Executive priority

Treat as an urgent patch-validation issue because the supplied severity is critical and the flaw affects kernel memory safety. Prioritize confirmed affected systems, but avoid declaring an incident solely from version detection because active exploitation is not evidenced and vendors may have backported the fix.

Technical view

In ip6_xmit(), skb_expand_head() may fail and free the skb plus associated dst or idev objects. Subsequent access could therefore cause a use-after-free. The upstream correction adds RCU read-side protection to keep associated objects valid during the affected operation.

Likely exposure

Potentially exposed assets are Linux systems running the listed affected kernel versions, including 5.15, 5.15.166, 6.1.107, 6.6.48, 6.10.7, and 6.11. Distribution kernels may backport fixes, so version strings alone are not conclusive.

Exploitation context

The supplied CVSS vector describes network-reachable, low-complexity exploitation without privileges or user interaction. However, the bundle reports that this CVE is not in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation, public exploit availability, or demonstrated impact.

Researcher notes

The record identifies the failure path and RCU-based correction but does not provide reproducibility conditions, affected configuration requirements, or exploitation evidence. The version data contains commit identifiers, duplicate entries, and an anomalous "0" value; validate exposure against upstream commits and distribution advisories rather than relying on simple version comparison.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor-supported kernel updates incorporating the linked upstream stable fixes.
  • Review the Linux distribution's advisory and package status for backported corrections.
  • Prioritize externally exposed and operationally critical Linux systems.
  • Follow vendor guidance where package fix status remains unclear.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts.
  • Check vendor package changelogs for CVE-2024-44985 or linked fixes.
  • Confirm the active kernel, not merely the installed package, contains the correction.
  • Re-scan updated systems and document unresolved vendor-package ambiguity.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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-2024-44985 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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
2ADP providers
9Source links

SSVC decision data

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

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
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-44985Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux81d626b00bdba16504eeae9cc891b18e83a9471a, ee6b1db17f8287b615448488fc37f42bcfe9ece6, 0c9f227bee11910a49e1d159abe102d06e3745d5, 0c9f227bee11910a49e1d159abe102d06e3745d5, 0c9f227bee11910a49e1d159abe102d06e3745d5, 0c9f227bee11910a49e1d159abe102d06e3745d5, 0c9f227bee11910a49e1d159abe102d06e3745d5unaffected
LinuxLinux5.15, 0, 5.15.166, 6.1.107, 6.6.48, 6.10.7, 6.11affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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