Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-46796 is a Linux kernel SMB/CIFS client bug involving mishandled file reference cleanup. In the documented case, it produced a kernel use-after-free detected by KASAN during filesystem testing against Windows Server 2022. Business urgency is highest for Linux systems that mount SMB shares, especially servers or appliances using CIFS heavily.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted kernel reliability and potential memory-safety issue for SMB-using Linux systems. It does not justify emergency action across all Linux assets from the provided evidence, but SMB client servers should be patched in the next normal security window.
Technical view
The bug is in smb2_set_path_size(). After smb2_compound_op() returns -EINVAL with a valid cfile, the cfile reference may already be dropped; retrying without reacquiring it can cause a double put and use-after-free. The source ties the issue to CIFS oplock/deferred close paths and provides Linux stable commit references.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the kernel SMB/CIFS client to mount and manipulate SMB shares. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 6.9, 6.10.10, 6.11, and 6.6.51 as affected, but distro-specific impact requires vendor mapping.
Exploitation context
No active exploitation is reported in the provided sources, and the CVE is not marked KEV. The evidence is a KASAN crash from fstests generic/013 against Windows Server 2022, not a public exploit report. Remote exploitability or privilege impact is not established by the bundle.
Researcher notes
The source bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, and distro package mappings. Analysis should focus on the CIFS client reference lifecycle around smb2_set_path_size(), smb2_compound_op(), deferred close, and oplock break handling. Avoid claiming privilege escalation or remote code execution without additional evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux kernel vendor updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize hosts that mount SMB/CIFS shares or run file workloads over SMB.
- Review distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
- Reduce unnecessary SMB client mounts where patching must be delayed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts with CIFS/SMB mounts enabled or configured.
- Map running kernel versions to vendor advisories and the linked stable commits.
- Confirm patched kernels are installed and active after reboot.
- Review kernel logs for CIFS crashes or KASAN use-after-free findings.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2024-46796 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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.
SSVC decision data
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a72d1edb0843e4c927a4096f81e631031c25c28CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/762099898309218b4a7954f3d49e985dc4dfd638CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f9c169b51b6ce20394594ef674d6b10efba31220CVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.