Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A memory-safety flaw in the Linux Xen network backend can access freed memory during hash cleanup. On affected systems using this component, a local low-privileged user may be able to cause serious confidentiality, integrity, or availability impact. The supplied CVSS score is 8.8.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority infrastructure update for Xen environments, especially multi-user or less-trusted workloads. Exposure requires local access according to CVSS, so prioritize internet-facing workload hosts, shared platforms, and systems where untrusted users can obtain accounts.
Technical view
xenvif_flush_hash() used an RCU list iterator while entries could be released by kfree_rcu after a grace period. Accessing head->next after an entry was freed could cause a use-after-free. The kernel fix changes the traversal to a safe list iterator.
Likely exposure
Prioritize Linux systems using the Xen network backend and an affected kernel revision. Systems not using xen-netback are less likely exposed. The bundle lists affected releases and multiple stable-branch fixes, but does not provide sufficiently clear version-range semantics for definitive package-level conclusions.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector describes local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and potential cross-scope impact. The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit.
Researcher notes
The failure is a concurrency-related use-after-free during RCU list traversal. Multiple stable-kernel commits are referenced, indicating branch-specific backports. The supplied data does not establish exploit reliability, affected configuration details, or complete package mappings; validate against the relevant kernel or distribution advisory.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable stable-branch fix.
- Review Linux distribution security guidance for the exact package and release.
- Prioritize Xen hosts where the affected network backend is actively used.
- Apply relevant Debian LTS updates where those advisories govern deployed systems.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems running Linux with the Xen network backend present or active.
- Compare each running kernel package against its vendor advisory and fixed revision.
- Confirm systems booted into the updated kernel after installation.
- Re-scan affected assets and document any systems awaiting maintenance.
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-2024-49936 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
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H26LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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/3c4423b0c4b98213b3438e15061e1d08220e6982CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7f0073fcd12ed7de185ef2c0af9d0fa1ddef22cCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0465723b8581cad27164c9073fd780904cd22d4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/efcff6ce7467f01f0753609f420333f3f2cecedaCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/143edf098b80669d05245b2f2367dd156a83a2c5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d408889d4b54f5501e4becc4dbbb9065143fbf4eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/54d8639af5568fc41c0e274fc3ec9cf86c59fcbbCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fa5e94a1811d68fbffa0725efe6d4ca62c03d12CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.htmlCVE reference, CVE
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.htmlCVE reference, CVE
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.