CVE-2024-43869

perf: Fix event leak upon exec and file release

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Published Aug 21, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
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()
=======> <NMI>
perf_event_overflow()
event->pending_sigtrap = ...
irq_work_queue(&event->pending_irq)
<======= </NMI>
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()
=======> <IRQ>
perf_pending_irq()
//do nothing, rely on pending task work
<======= </IRQ>

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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4008-1 linux-6.1 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7100-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7100-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7123-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7144-1 Linux kernel (Intel IoTG) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7154-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7155-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7156-1 Linux kernel (GKE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7154-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7194-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7196-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-401
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.1:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L'}

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00103}

 epss

{'score': 0.00079}
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00079}

 epss

{'score': 0.00103}
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-402
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L'}
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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() =======> <NMI> perf_event_overflow() event->pending_sigtrap = ... irq_work_queue(&event->pending_irq) <======= </NMI> 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() =======> <IRQ> perf_pending_irq() //do nothing, rely on pending task work <======= </IRQ> 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.
Title perf: Fix event leak upon exec and file release
References
Earlier changes (4)
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 23, 2026, 3:53 PM
Reserved
Aug 17, 2024, 9:11 AM

View source JSON

Updated
Nov 3, 2025, 10:06 PM

JSON

Status
Modified
Published
Aug 21, 2024, 1:15 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 7:51 AM

View source JSON

Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 21, 2024, 12:00 AM

View source Bugzilla JSON

No data.