CVE-2024-56642: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tipc: Fix use-after-free of kernel socket in cleanup

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tipc: Fix use-after-free of kernel socket in cleanup_bearer().

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tipc: Fix use-after-free of kernel socket in cleanup_bearer(). syzkaller reported a use-after-free of UDP kernel socket in cleanup_bearer() without repro. [0][1] When bearer_disable() calls tipc_udp_disable(), cleanup of the UDP kernel socket is deferred by work calling cleanup_bearer(). tipc_exit_net() waits for such works to finish by checking tipc_net(net)->wq_count. However, the work decrements the count too early before releasing the kernel socket, unblocking cleanup_net() and resulting in use-after-free. Let's move the decrement after releasing the socket in cleanup_bearer(). [0]: ref_tracker: net notrefcnt@000000009b3d1faf has 1/1 users at sk_alloc+0x438/0x608 inet_create+0x4c8/0xcb0 __sock_create+0x350/0x6b8 sock_create_kern+0x58/0x78 udp_sock_create4+0x68/0x398 udp_sock_create+0x88/0xc8 tipc_udp_enable+0x5e8/0x848 __tipc_nl_bearer_enable+0x84c/0xed8 tipc_nl_bearer_enable+0x38/0x60 genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0x170/0x248 genl_rcv_msg+0x400/0x5b0 netlink_rcv_skb+0x1dc/0x398 genl_rcv+0x44/0x68 netlink_unicast+0x678/0x8b0 netlink_se

Description from the National Vulnerability Database, published by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

What it means for a small business

Linux is on the computers, phones or browsers your team uses every day. Turn on automatic updates and restart: most of these fixes only take effect after a restart.

How likely is an attack? The Exploit Prediction Scoring System, run by FIRST (the global association of security response teams), puts the odds of this one being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.24%, higher than 15% of CVEs. That’s low, but low isn’t zero, and the odds jump the day someone publishes an exploit. Scored October 29, 2026, updated daily.

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Sources

Part of the Huttenlocher Technologies vulnerability database, refreshed twice a day from CISA and the NVD. The title, category and plain-language guidance are ours; check the linked record before acting on a detail. This is general guidance, not a review of your systems.

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