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CVE Record

CVE-2024-46828: sched: sch_cake: fix bulk flow accounting logic for host fairness

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched: sch_cake: fix bulk flow accounting logic for host fairness In sch_cake, we keep track of the count of active bulk flows per host, when running in dst/src host fairness mode, which is used as the round-robin weight when iterating through flows. The count of active bulk flows is updated whenever a flow changes state. This has a peculiar interaction with the hash collision handling: when a hash collision occurs (after the set-associative hashing), the state of the hash bucket is simply updated to match the new packet that collided, and if host fairness is enabled, that also means assigning new per-host state to the flow. For this reason, the bulk flow counters of the host(s) assigned to the flow are decremented, before new state is assigned (and the counters, which may not belong to the same host anymore, are incremented again). Back when this code was introduced, the host fairness mode was always enabled, so the decrement was unconditional. When the configuration flags were introduced the *increment* was made conditional, but the *decrement* was not. Which of course can lead to a spurious decrement (and associated wrap-around to U16_MAX). AFAICT, when host fairness is disabled, the decrement and wrap-around happens as soon as a hash collision occurs (which is not that common in itself, due to the set-associative hashing). However, in most cases this is harmless, as the value is only used when host fairness mode is enabled. So in order to trigger an array overflow, sch_cake has to first be configured with host fairness disabled, and while running in this mode, a hash collision has to occur to cause the overflow. Then, the qdisc has to be reconfigured to enable host fairness, which leads to the array out-of-bounds because the wrapped-around value is retained and used as an array index. It seems that syzbot managed to trigger this, which is quite impressive in its own right. This patch fixes the issue by introducing the same conditional check on decrement as is used on increment. The original bug predates the upstreaming of cake, but the commit listed in the Fixes tag touched that code, meaning that this patch won't apply before that.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-46828 is a Linux kernel bug in CAKE traffic shaping accounting. Under a narrow sequence involving hash collision and host-fairness reconfiguration, an internal counter can wrap and later be used incorrectly. The sources do not provide a CVSS score or confirmed real-world exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted Linux kernel maintenance issue, not an emergency from current evidence. Prioritize patching internet-edge, networking, and traffic-shaping systems first, then include remaining affected Linux kernels in normal security update cycles.

Technical view

The sch_cake qdisc decremented bulk-flow host counters even when host fairness was disabled, while increments were conditional. A collision could wrap the counter to U16_MAX; later enabling host fairness could retain that value and cause an array out-of-bounds condition. The upstream fix applies the same conditional check to decrement logic.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using the sch_cake CAKE qdisc, especially where host fairness modes are changed. Generic Linux hosts not using CAKE traffic shaping appear less likely to be reachable through this bug, based on the described trigger conditions.

Exploitation context

The record credits syzbot-style triggering and describes a complex prerequisite sequence. It is not listed in KEV, and the supplied sources do not claim active exploitation, public weaponization, or a practical attacker path.

Researcher notes

The key condition is stale bulk-flow host accounting after a collision while host fairness is disabled, followed by enabling host fairness. Evidence is strong for the bug and fix, but incomplete for impact, exploitability, and attacker privilege requirements.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply fixed Linux kernel updates from your distribution or upstream stable branch.
  • Prioritize systems using CAKE traffic shaping or custom qdisc configuration.
  • Review Debian LTS advisories if running affected Debian kernel packages.
  • Check vendor kernel guidance where kernels are backported or appliance-managed.
  • Avoid assuming mitigation details beyond published vendor fixes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions against vendor advisories and upstream stable fixes.
  • Identify systems where sch_cake or CAKE qdisc is configured.
  • Review traffic-shaping automation for host fairness mode changes.
  • Confirm patched kernel packages are installed and running after reboot.
  • Track distro advisories for backported fixed builds.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

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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CVE-2024-46828 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
2ADP providers
10Source 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

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux712639929912c5eefb09facccb48d55b3f72c9f8, 712639929912c5eefb09facccb48d55b3f72c9f8, 712639929912c5eefb09facccb48d55b3f72c9f8, 712639929912c5eefb09facccb48d55b3f72c9f8, 712639929912c5eefb09facccb48d55b3f72c9f8, 712639929912c5eefb09facccb48d55b3f72c9f8, 712639929912c5eefb09facccb48d55b3f72c9f8unaffected
LinuxLinux5.1, 0, 5.4.284, 5.10.226, 5.15.167, 6.1.110, 6.6.51, 6.10.10, 6.11affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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