CVE-2024-56600 – This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerabili... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-56600?

CVE-2024-56600 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's IPv6 socket creation function. When inet6_create() fails during socket allocation, it leaves a dangling pointer in the sock object that can be accessed later, potentially leading to memory corruption. This affects all Linux systems with IPv6 enabled.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's IPv6 socket creation function. When inet6_create() fails during socket allocation, it leaves a dangling pointer in the sock object that can be accessed later, potentially leading to memory corruption. This affects all Linux systems with IPv6 enabled.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel

Versions: Specific affected versions not explicitly stated in CVE description, but references indicate multiple stable kernel versions are affected.

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires IPv6 to be enabled and the vulnerable code path to be triggered through socket creation.

📦 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 →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel memory corruption leading to privilege escalation, denial of service, or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.

🟠

Likely Case

Kernel panic or system crash causing denial of service.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact due to exploit complexity and need for local access, but still potential for system instability.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access to trigger the vulnerable code path.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local users or processes could potentially exploit this vulnerability.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: HIGH

Exploitation requires triggering the specific error condition in inet6_create() and then accessing the dangling pointer before memory is reused.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Multiple stable kernel versions referenced in git commits

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/276a473c956fb55a6f3affa9ff232e10fffa7b43

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution vendor. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable IPv6

linux

Disable IPv6 networking to prevent triggering the vulnerable code path

echo 'net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
sysctl -p

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls to limit local user accounts
Monitor system logs for kernel panics or unusual socket creation failures

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check kernel version against distribution security advisories or run: uname -r and compare with known vulnerable versions

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version after update matches patched version from vendor advisory

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
OOM killer activity
Socket creation failures in system logs

Network Indicators:

Unusual IPv6 socket creation patterns

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "Oops" OR "use-after-free")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-56600

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

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

CWE: CWE-416

Published: December 27, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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