CVE-2024-49889

ext4: avoid use-after-free in ext4_ext_show_leaf()

Published Oct 21, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ext4: avoid use-after-free in ext4_ext_show_leaf()

In ext4_find_extent(), path may be freed by error or be reallocated, so
using a previously saved *ppath may have been freed and thus may trigger
use-after-free, as follows:

ext4_split_extent
path = *ppath;
ext4_split_extent_at(ppath)
path = ext4_find_extent(ppath)
ext4_split_extent_at(ppath)
// ext4_find_extent fails to free path
// but zeroout succeeds
ext4_ext_show_leaf(inode, path)
eh = path[depth].p_hdr
// path use-after-free !!!

Similar to ext4_split_extent_at(), we use *ppath directly as an input to
ext4_ext_show_leaf(). Fix a spelling error by the way.

Same problem in ext4_ext_handle_unwritten_extents(). Since 'path' is only
used in ext4_ext_show_leaf(), remove 'path' and use *ppath directly.

This issue is triggered only when EXT_DEBUG is defined and therefore does
not affect functionality.

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
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4075-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-2 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-3 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7166-4 Linux kernel (Xilinx ZynqMP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7186-1 Linux kernel (Intel IoTG) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7186-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7194-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7276-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7277-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7301-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7303-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7303-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7303-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7304-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7310-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7311-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7384-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7384-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7385-1 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7386-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7403-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7468-1 Linux kernel (Azure, N-Series) vulnerabilities
History
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
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
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': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

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
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: avoid use-after-free in ext4_ext_show_leaf() In ext4_find_extent(), path may be freed by error or be reallocated, so using a previously saved *ppath may have been freed and thus may trigger use-after-free, as follows: ext4_split_extent path = *ppath; ext4_split_extent_at(ppath) path = ext4_find_extent(ppath) ext4_split_extent_at(ppath) // ext4_find_extent fails to free path // but zeroout succeeds ext4_ext_show_leaf(inode, path) eh = path[depth].p_hdr // path use-after-free !!! Similar to ext4_split_extent_at(), we use *ppath directly as an input to ext4_ext_show_leaf(). Fix a spelling error by the way. Same problem in ext4_ext_handle_unwritten_extents(). Since 'path' is only used in ext4_ext_show_leaf(), remove 'path' and use *ppath directly. This issue is triggered only when EXT_DEBUG is defined and therefore does not affect functionality.
Title ext4: avoid use-after-free in ext4_ext_show_leaf()
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 15, 2026, 12:53 AM
Reserved
Oct 21, 2024, 12:17 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Oct 21, 2024, 6:15 PM
Modified
Oct 15, 2026, 1:18 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 21, 2024, 12:00 AM