CVE-2024-56553
📋 TL;DR
A memory leak vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's binder subsystem where freeze notification entries aren't properly freed when cleared before completion. This affects Linux systems using the binder IPC mechanism, potentially leading to resource exhaustion over time. The vulnerability requires local access to exploit.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Sustained exploitation could lead to kernel memory exhaustion, causing system instability, denial of service, or kernel crashes.
Likely Case
Gradual memory consumption over time, potentially affecting system performance and stability if binder processes are heavily used.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper memory monitoring and process isolation in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and ability to interact with binder interface. Memory leak is gradual rather than immediate.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel commits 1db76ec2b4b206ff943e292a0b55e68ff3443598 and b8b77712142fb146fe18d2253bc8a798d522e427
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1db76ec2b4b206ff943e292a0b55e68ff3443598
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to kernel version containing the fix. 2. Check your distribution's security advisories for specific patched versions. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable binder subsystem
linuxRemove binder module if not required for system functionality
rmmod binder
echo 'blacklist binder' > /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-binder.conf
Restrict binder access
linuxLimit which users/processes can access binder devices
chmod 600 /dev/binder
setfacl -m u:root:rw- /dev/binder
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict process isolation and resource limits for binder-using processes
- Monitor kernel memory usage and restart affected processes if memory consumption grows abnormally
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if binder is in use: 'lsmod | grep binder' and 'uname -r'Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes the fix commits or check with distribution's security update verification tools📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel OOM (Out of Memory) messages
- Increasing kernel memory usage over time
- Process crashes related to memory allocation
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("Out of memory" OR "oom" OR "binder")