CVE-2024-26737
bpf: Fix racing between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free and bpf_timer_cancel
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 7.8 High
- Published
- Apr 3, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Reserved
- Feb 19, 2024
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf: Fix racing between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free and bpf_timer_cancel
The following race is possible between bpf_timer_cancel_and_free and bpf_timer_cancel. It will lead a UAF on the timer->timer.
bpf_timer_cancel(); spin_lock(); t = timer->time; spin_unlock();
bpf_timer_cancel_and_free(); spin_lock(); t = timer->timer; timer->timer = NULL; spin_unlock(); hrtimer_cancel(&t->timer); kfree(t);
/* UAF on t */ hrtimer_cancel(&t->timer);
In bpf_timer_cancel_and_free, this patch frees the timer->timer after a rcu grace period. This requires a rcu_head addition to the "struct bpf_hrtimer". Another kfree(t) happens in bpf_timer_init, this does not need a kfree_rcu because it is still under the spin_lock and timer->timer has not been visible by others yet.
In bpf_timer_cancel, rcu_read_lock() is added because this helper can be used in a non rcu critical section context (e.g. from a sleepable bpf prog). Other timer->timer usages in helpers.c have been audited, bpf_timer_cancel() is the only place where timer->timer is used outside of the spin_lock.
Another solution considered is to mark a t->flag in bpf_timer_cancel and clear it after hrtimer_cancel() is done. In bpf_timer_cancel_and_free, it busy waits for the flag to be cleared before kfree(t). This patch goes with a straight forward solution and frees timer->timer after a rcu grace period.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 7.8 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | Linux |
| 3.1 | 5.5 Medium | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H | CISA-ADP |
Weaknesses
The record names no weakness.
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
LinuxLinux |
|
LinuxLinux |
|
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5268bb02107b9eedfdcd51db75b407d10043368c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/addf5e297e6cbf5341f9c07720693ca9ba0057b5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8327ed12e8ebc5436bfaa1786c49988894f9c8a6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d80a9e745fa5b47da3bca001f186c02485c7c33
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0281b919e175bb9c3128bd3872ac2903e9436e3f
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