CVE-2024-53139
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SCTP IPv6 implementation. The sctp_v6_available() function accesses network device structures without proper RCU locking, potentially allowing local attackers to crash the kernel or execute arbitrary code. Systems running vulnerable Linux kernel versions with SCTP IPv6 support are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux Kernel
📦 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...
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 →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
Local privilege escalation to kernel-level code execution, leading to complete system compromise.
Likely Case
Kernel panic or system crash causing denial of service.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if SCTP is disabled or IPv6 is not used.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and knowledge of kernel memory layout. The vulnerability was discovered through lockdep debugging.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions with commits 05656a66592759242c74063616291b7274d11b2f, ad975697211f4f2c4ce61c3ba524fd14d88ceab8, or eb72e7fcc83987d5d5595b43222f23b295d5de7f applied
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05656a66592759242c74063616291b7274d11b2f
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to a patched kernel version from your distribution vendor. 2. Reboot the system to load the new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable SCTP module
linuxUnload the SCTP kernel module to prevent exploitation
sudo rmmod sctp
echo 'blacklist sctp' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-sctp.conf
Disable IPv6
linuxDisable IPv6 networking to mitigate the vulnerability
echo 'net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo sysctl -p
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges
- Monitor system logs for kernel panics or suspicious SCTP-related activity
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and verify if SCTP module is loaded: lsmod | grep sctpCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Check kernel version after update and verify SCTP module functions normally📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- RCU warnings in dmesg
- SCTP bind failures
Network Indicators:
- Unusual SCTP traffic from local processes
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("RCU" OR "sctp" OR "panic")