Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-56658 is a Linux kernel memory safety flaw. A kernel network namespace cleanup path can free a network structure too early, leaving later networking callbacks using freed memory. The CVSS score is high, but the provided evidence describes local exploitation conditions, not remote exposure or confirmed active attacks.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for Linux fleets, especially shared infrastructure. It is not evidenced as internet-remote or actively exploited in the provided sources, but kernel memory corruption with local privileges can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Technical view
The issue is a CWE-416 use-after-free in Linux networking namespace dismantling. xfrm4/xfrm6 initialization copies dst operation templates into per-net structures; later dst_destroy callbacks can dereference dst->ops after the owning struct net was freed. The fix defers final struct net freeing until another cleanup_net round and RCU barrier.
Likely exposure
Exposure is primarily Linux systems running affected kernel versions or unpatched downstream kernel packages. Based on the CVSS vector, an attacker needs local low-privileged access and no user interaction. The source does not establish remote network exploitability.
Exploitation context
The source bundle reports KASAN evidence of slab-use-after-free in dst_destroy and lists CVSS AV:L/PR:L. KEV is false, and no cited source in the bundle confirms active exploitation or public exploit availability.
Researcher notes
The record ties the flaw to netns teardown, xfrm dst ops storage, dst_destroy, and delayed RCU cleanup ordering. Evidence is strongest for the root cause and upstream fix direction; exploitability details beyond local low-privileged conditions are not provided.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor kernel updates that include the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize multi-user, shared, and container-host Linux systems.
- Track distribution advisories, including Debian LTS notices cited for this CVE.
- If patch status is unclear, follow your Linux vendor’s guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers and images.
- Compare running kernels against vendor advisories and stable fix references.
- Confirm patched kernels are booted, not only installed.
- Review crash telemetry for dst_destroy or KASAN use-after-free indicators.
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.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-56658 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
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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/c261dcd61c9e88a8f1a66654354d32295a975230CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dac465986a4a38cd2f13e934f562b6ca344e5720CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3267b254dc0a04dfa362a2be24573cfa6d2d78f5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b7a79e51297f7b82adb687086f5cb2da446f1e40CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6610c7f8a8d47fd1123eed55ba8c11c2444d8842CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0f6ede9fbc747e2553612271bce108f7517e7a45CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00030.htmlCVE reference, CVE
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/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.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.