Linux Kernel up to 5.15.164/6.1.102/6.6.43/6.10.2 perf free_event reference count

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.164/6.1.102/6.6.43/6.10.2. This vulnerability affects the function free_event of the component perf. The manipulation results in reference count.
This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2024-43869. No exploit exists.
Upgrading the affected component is recommended.
Details
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.164/6.1.102/6.6.43/6.10.2. Affected is the function free_event of the component perf. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf: Fix event leak upon exec and file release The perf pending task work is never waited upon the matching event release. In the case of a child event, released via free_event() directly, this can potentially result in a leaked event, such as in the following scenario that doesn't even require a weak IRQ work implementation to trigger: schedule() prepare_task_switch() =======> perf_event_overflow() event->pending_sigtrap = ... irq_work_queue(&event->pending_irq) perf_event_task_sched_out() event_sched_out() event->pending_sigtrap = 0; atomic_long_inc_not_zero(&event->refcount) task_work_add(&event->pending_task) finish_lock_switch() =======> perf_pending_irq() //do nothing, rely on pending task work begin_new_exec() perf_event_exit_task() perf_event_exit_event() // If is child event free_event() WARN(atomic_long_cmpxchg(&event->refcount, 1, 0) != 1) // event is leaked Similar scenarios can also happen with perf_event_remove_on_exec() or simply against concurrent perf_event_release(). Fix this with synchonizing against the possibly remaining pending task work while freeing the event, just like is done with remaining pending IRQ work. This means that the pending task callback neither need nor should hold a reference to the event, preventing it from ever beeing freed.
The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2024-43869 since 08/17/2024. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 210741 (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7100-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 5.15.165, 6.1.103, 6.6.44 or 6.10.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9ad46f1fef42/ed2c202dac55/104e258a0040/f34d8307a73a/3a5465418f5f is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (210741) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2024-1888). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Affected
- Debian Linux
- Amazon Linux 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Ubuntu Linux
- SUSE Linux
- IBM InfoSphere Guardium
- Oracle Linux
- Kyocera Printer
- IBM Security Guardium
- RESF Rocky Linux
- Broadcom Brocade SANnav
- Open Source Linux Kernel
- IBM QRadar SIEM
- IBM DB2
- Dell PowerProtect Data Domain
- Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Management Center
- Dell PowerProtect Data Domain OS
- Dell Secure Connect Gateway
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 5.15.164
- 6.1.102
- 6.6.0
- 6.6.1
- 6.6.2
- 6.6.3
- 6.6.4
- 6.6.5
- 6.6.6
- 6.6.7
- 6.6.8
- 6.6.9
- 6.6.10
- 6.6.11
- 6.6.12
- 6.6.13
- 6.6.14
- 6.6.15
- 6.6.16
- 6.6.17
- 6.6.18
- 6.6.19
- 6.6.20
- 6.6.21
- 6.6.22
- 6.6.23
- 6.6.24
- 6.6.25
- 6.6.26
- 6.6.27
- 6.6.28
- 6.6.29
- 6.6.30
- 6.6.31
- 6.6.32
- 6.6.33
- 6.6.34
- 6.6.35
- 6.6.36
- 6.6.37
- 6.6.38
- 6.6.39
- 6.6.40
- 6.6.41
- 6.6.42
- 6.6.43
- 6.10.0
- 6.10.1
- 6.10.2
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍
CVSSv2
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Reference countCWE: CWE-911 / CWE-664
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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Nessus ID: 210741
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7100-1)
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.165/6.1.103/6.6.44/6.10.3
Patch: 9ad46f1fef42/ed2c202dac55/104e258a0040/f34d8307a73a/3a5465418f5f
Timeline
08/17/2024 🔍08/21/2024 🔍
08/21/2024 🔍
02/18/2026 🔍
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2024-43869 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2024-43869
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-275322
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2024-1888 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen
Entry
Created: 08/21/2024 07:25Updated: 02/18/2026 06:11
Changes: 08/21/2024 07:25 (58), 08/22/2024 09:00 (1), 11/11/2024 22:44 (2), 09/26/2025 21:13 (10), 02/18/2026 06:11 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
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