Linux Kernel up to 6.12.1 cache_show reference count

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.1 and classified as problematic. This affects the function cache_show. The manipulation results in reference count. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2024-53174. No exploit is available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.1. Affected is the function cache_show. 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: SUNRPC: make sure cache entry active before cache_show The function `c_show` was called with protection from RCU. This only ensures that `cp` will not be freed. Therefore, the reference count for `cp` can drop to zero, which will trigger a refcount use-after-free warning when `cache_get` is called. To resolve this issue, use `cache_get_rcu` to ensure that `cp` remains active. ------------[ cut here ]------------ refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. WARNING: CPU: 7 PID: 822 at lib/refcount.c:25 refcount_warn_saturate+0xb1/0x120 CPU: 7 UID: 0 PID: 822 Comm: cat Not tainted 6.12.0-rc3+ #1 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.1-2.fc37 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xb1/0x120 Call Trace: c_show+0x2fc/0x380 [sunrpc] seq_read_iter+0x589/0x770 seq_read+0x1e5/0x270 proc_reg_read+0xe1/0x140 vfs_read+0x125/0x530 ksys_read+0xc1/0x160 do_syscall_64+0x5f/0x170 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2024-53174 since 11/19/2024. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 216224 (Oracle Linux 7 / 8 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20100)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.287, 5.10.231, 5.15.174, 6.1.120, 6.6.64, 6.11.11 or 6.12.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e9be26735d055c42543a4d047a769cc6d0fb1504/02999e135b013d85c6df738746e8e24699befee4/c7dac3af57e38b2054f990e573256d90bf887958/068c0b50f3f700b94f78850834cd91ae3b34c2c1/acfaf37888e0f0732fb6a50ff093dce6d99994d0/ec305f303bf070b4f6896b7a76009f702956d402/d882e2b7fad3f5e5fac66184a347f408813f654a/2862eee078a4d2d1f584e7f24fa50dddfa5f3471 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 (216224) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2855). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• IBM DataPower Gateway
• Dell PowerScale OneFS

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.286
• 5.10.230
• 5.15.173
• 6.1.119
• 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
• 6.6.44
• 6.6.45
• 6.6.46
• 6.6.47
• 6.6.48
• 6.6.49
• 6.6.50
• 6.6.51
• 6.6.52
• 6.6.53
• 6.6.54
• 6.6.55
• 6.6.56
• 6.6.57
• 6.6.58
• 6.6.59
• 6.6.60
• 6.6.61
• 6.6.62
• 6.6.63
• 6.11.0
• 6.11.1
• 6.11.2
• 6.11.3
• 6.11.4
• 6.11.5
• 6.11.6
• 6.11.7
• 6.11.8
• 6.11.9
• 6.11.10
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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