CVE-2024-47747 – This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerabili... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-47747?

CVE-2024-47747 has a CVSS score of 7.0 (HIGH). This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ether3 network driver caused by a race condition during device removal. An attacker could potentially exploit this to cause kernel crashes, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the ether3 driver loaded are vulnerable.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ether3 network driver caused by a race condition during device removal. An attacker could potentially exploit this to cause kernel crashes, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the ether3 driver loaded are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel

Versions: Specific affected versions not specified in CVE description, but patches are available in stable kernel trees.

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using vulnerable kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Only vulnerable if the ether3 driver (obsolete SEEQ 8005 network driver) is loaded. Most modern systems don't use this driver by default.

📦 What is this software?

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel panic leading to system crash, privilege escalation to root, or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.

🟠

Likely Case

Kernel crash or system instability causing denial of service.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if the ether3 driver is not loaded or the system is patched.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access or ability to load/unload kernel modules.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local attackers or malicious insiders could exploit this if they have sufficient privileges to manipulate network devices.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: HIGH - Requires race condition timing and ability to trigger device removal while timer is active.

Exploitation requires local access and ability to manipulate network devices. The race condition makes reliable exploitation challenging.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Patched in stable kernel versions via commits referenced in CVE

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1c57d61a43293252ad732007c7070fdb112545fd

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify ether3 driver is not loaded if not needed.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Unload ether3 driver

linux

Remove the vulnerable kernel module if not required

sudo rmmod ether3
echo 'blacklist ether3' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ether3.conf

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Ensure ether3 driver is blacklisted and not loaded
Restrict local access and module loading capabilities to trusted users only

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if ether3 module is loaded: lsmod | grep ether3

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Check kernel version is patched and ether3 module is not loaded or blacklisted

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel oops messages
System crashes related to network driver
Unexpected ether3 module loading

Network Indicators:

None - local exploitation only

SIEM Query:

Process where (command_line contains "insmod ether3" OR command_line contains "modprobe ether3")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-47747

CVSS v3 Score: 7.0 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-416

Published: October 21, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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