Cloudanix VulnDB

CVE-2024-56779

Medium · 5.5

CVSS

5.5

EPSS

0.5%

Published

Jan 8, 2025

CISA due date

—

Cloudanix analysis

Monitor only SSVC: Track

A problem in the way network file servers handle simultaneous file requests during shutdown can waste memory and eventually slow or crash the system.

Exploitation
Local Privilege
Attacker needs
Low Privilege
Complexity
Moderate
Impact
Denial Of Service
Component
OS kernel
Class
Race Condition
Remediation
Upgrade
Effort
Medium
Patch risk
Low

What it actually does

Race condition during concurrent nfsd4_open processing allows an unconfirmed nfs4_openowner to be released while still referenced by a stateid, leading to leaks of openowner, stateid, nfsd_file, and nfsd_file_mark objects that persist until slab cache destruction.

Why it matters to the business

Unpatched Linux NFS servers can experience gradual memory exhaustion under load with frequent client opens and force-unmount attempts, increasing operational risk of denial of service and requiring restarts; the issue affects widely deployed kernel versions with no ransomware usage reported and stable low exploitation probability.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker triggers concurrent open requests from an NFS client while a force umount is issued, causing two rpc_tasks to reach the server simultaneously; nfsd1 allocates an unconfirmed openowner that nfsd2 then releases, leaving dangling state that leaks during later shutdown and triggers slab warnings.

How to fix it

Update the Linux kernel to a version containing the fix for the nfs4_openowner leak in nfsd4_process_open1; rebuild and reboot affected systems or apply the stable backport if available for the running distribution.

How to confirm the fix worked

After patching, reproduce concurrent open and force-umount workload, then verify absence of 'Objects remaining in nfsd_file' warnings on kmem_cache_shutdown and confirm no unhashed openowners remain in client lists via nfs4_state_dump.

Typical attack path

  1. Client issues open on a file via nfs4_do_open
  2. Force umount begins and signals in-flight rpc_tasks
  3. Second rpc_task is created in the retry loop and sent to server
  4. Two nfsd threads concurrently call find_or_alloc_open_stateowner on the same owner
  5. One thread releases the unconfirmed owner while the other still holds references
  6. Shutdown via /proc/fs/nfsd/threads exposes leaked objects in slab caches

How to detect it

Inspect kernel logs for BUG nfsd_file or nfsd_file_mark warnings on module unload, trace nfsd4_process_open1 calls with unconfirmed owners, and search for repeated alloc_stateowner followed by release without confirmation in nfsd traces.

What your security team should do

  • Prioritize kernel updates on all NFS servers within the next maintenance window
  • Monitor slab usage and dmesg for nfsd_file and openowner leak warnings
  • Limit force-unmount usage on production NFS exports until patched
  • Review EPSS trend remains low and no KEV listing before deprioritizing

The record

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: fix nfs4_openowner leak when concurrent nfsd4_open occur The action force umount(umount -f) will attempt to kill all rpc_task even umount operation may ultimately fail if some files remain open. Consequently, if an action attempts to open a file, it can potentially send two rpc_task to nfs server. NFS CLIENT thread1 thread2 open("file") ... nfs4_do_open _nfs4_do_open _nfs4_open_and_get_state _nfs4_proc_open nfs4_run_open_task /* rpc_task1 */ rpc_run_task rpc_wait_for_completion_task umount -f nfs_umount_begin rpc_killall_tasks rpc_signal_task rpc_task1 been wakeup and return -512 _nfs4_do_open // while loop ... nfs4_run_open_task /* rpc_task2 */ rpc_run_task rpc_wait_for_completion_task While processing an open request, nfsd will first attempt to find or allocate an nfs4_openowner. If it finds an nfs4_openowner that is not marked as NFS4_OO_CONFIRMED, this nfs4_openowner will released. Since two rpc_task can attempt to open the same file simultaneously from the client to server, and because two instances of nfsd can run concurrently, this situation can lead to lots of memory leak. Additionally, when we echo 0 to /proc/fs/nfsd/threads, warning will be triggered. NFS SERVER nfsd1 nfsd2 echo 0 > /proc/fs/nfsd/threads nfsd4_open nfsd4_process_open1 find_or_alloc_open_stateowner // alloc oo1, stateid1 nfsd4_open nfsd4_process_open1 find_or_alloc_open_stateowner // find oo1, without NFS4_OO_CONFIRMED release_openowner unhash_openowner_locked list_del_init(&oo->oo_perclient) // cannot find this oo // from client, LEAK!!! alloc_stateowner // alloc oo2 nfsd4_process_open2 init_open_stateid // associate oo1 // with stateid1, stateid1 LEAK!!! nfs4_get_vfs_file // alloc nfsd_file1 and nfsd_file_mark1 // all LEAK!!! nfsd4_process_open2 ... write_threads ... nfsd_destroy_serv nfsd_shutdown_net nfs4_state_shutdown_net nfs4_state_destroy_net destroy_client __destroy_client // won't find oo1!!! nfsd_shutdown_generic nfsd_file_cache_shutdown kmem_cache_destroy for nfsd_file_slab and nfsd_file_mark_slab // bark since nfsd_file1 // and nfsd_file_mark1 // still alive ======================================================================= BUG nfsd_file (Not tainted): Objects remaining in nfsd_file on __kmem_cache_shutdown() ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Slab 0xffd4000004438a80 objects=34 used=1 fp=0xff11000110e2ad28 flags=0x17ffffc0000240(workingset|head|node=0|zone=2|lastcpupid=0x1fffff) CPU: 4 UID: 0 PID: 757 Comm: sh Not tainted 6.12.0-rc6+ #19 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.1-2.fc37 04/01/2014 Call Trace: <TASK> dum ---truncated---

Affected packages

Ecosystem Package Introduced Fixed
Debian:11 linux 0 No fix
Debian:11 linux 0 5.10.234-1
Debian:11 linux-6.1 0 6.1.128-1~deb11u1
Debian:11 linux-6.1 0 6.1.6.1.128-1~deb11u1
Debian:12 linux 0 6.1.123-1
Debian:13 linux 0 6.12.5-1
Linux Kernel 0 5.4.287
Linux Kernel 3.17.0 5.4.287
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP6 kernel-default 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-default 0 4.12.14-122.261.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_69 0 1-8.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 kernel-default 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6-RT_Update_8 0 1-150600.1.3.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_8 0 1-150600.13.3.2
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-64kb 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-default 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-default-base 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1.150600.12.16.2
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-source 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-zfcpdump 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Confidential Computing Technical Preview 15 SP6 kernel-coco 0 6.4.0-15061.12.coco15sp6.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Confidential Computing Technical Preview 15 SP6 kernel-coco_debug 0 6.4.0-15061.12.coco15sp6.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Confidential Computing Technical Preview 15 SP6 kernel-source-coco 0 6.4.0-15061.12.coco15sp6.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Confidential Computing Technical Preview 15 SP6 kernel-syms-coco 0 6.4.0-15061.12.coco15sp6.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 kernel-docs 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 kernel-obs-build 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 kernel-source 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 kernel-syms 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP6 kernel-default 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 kernel-azure 0 6.4.0-150600.8.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure 0 6.4.0-150600.8.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 kernel-syms-azure 0 6.4.0-150600.8.26.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-default 0 4.12.14-122.261.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-source 0 4.12.14-122.261.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-syms 0 4.12.14-122.261.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-default 0 4.12.14-122.261.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-source 0 4.12.14-122.261.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-syms 0 4.12.14-122.261.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP6 kernel-default 0 6.4.0-150600.23.38.1
SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 kernel-rt 0 6.4.0-150600.10.26.1
SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 kernel-rt_debug 0 6.4.0-150600.10.26.1
SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 kernel-source-rt 0 6.4.0-150600.10.26.1
SUSE:Real Time Module 15 SP6 kernel-syms-rt 0 6.4.0-150600.10.26.1
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS linux-hwe-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-aws-5.0 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-aws-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-azure-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gke-4.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gke-5.4 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-gkeop-5.4 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-hwe 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-hwe-edge 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oem 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.0 0 No fix
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.3 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux 0 5.4.0-211.231
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws 0 5.4.0-1142.152
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.15 0 5.15.0-1080.87~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-aws-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure 0 5.4.0-1147.154
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.15 0 5.15.0-1086.95~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-fde 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-azure-fde-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-bluefield 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-bluefield 0 5.4.0-1101.108
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 5.4.0-1145.154
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.15 0 5.15.0-1081.90~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gke 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gke-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gkeop 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-gkeop-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.15 0 5.15.0-136.147~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-ibm 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-ibm 0 5.4.0-1088.93
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-ibm-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-ibm-5.15 0 5.15.0-1074.77~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-intel-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-intel-iotg-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-intel-iotg-5.15 0 5.15.0-1077.83~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-iot 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-iot 0 5.4.0-1048.51
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 5.4.0-1129.138
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 0 5.15.0-135.146~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.10 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.14 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oem-5.6 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 5.4.0-1140.150
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.13 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.15 0 5.15.0-1077.83~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-oracle-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-raspi 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-raspi 0 5.4.0-1129.142
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-raspi2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.11 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.15 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.15 0 5.15.0-1075.79~20.04.1
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-riscv-5.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-xilinx-zynqmp 0 No fix
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS linux-xilinx-zynqmp 0 5.4.0-1060.64
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux 0 5.15.0-135.146
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-allwinner-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws 0 5.15.0-1080.87
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-6.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-aws-6.8 0 6.8.0-1027.29~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure 0 5.15.0-1084.93
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-6.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-6.8 0 6.8.0-1027.32~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-fde 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-fde-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-azure-fde-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp 0 5.15.0-1079.88
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-6.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gcp-6.8 0 6.8.0-1028.30~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gke 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gke 0 5.15.0-1077.83
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gkeop 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-gkeop 0 5.15.0-1062.70
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-6.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-hwe-6.8 0 6.8.0-58.60~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-ibm 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-ibm 0 5.15.0-1072.75
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-ibm-6.8 0 6.8.0-1024.24~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-intel-iot-realtime 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-intel-iot-realtime 0 5.15.0-1073.75
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-intel-iotg 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-intel-iotg 0 5.15.0-1075.81
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-kvm 0 5.15.0-1076.81
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency 0 5.15.0-135.146
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 0 6.8.0-58.60.1~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia 0 5.15.0-1074.75
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-6.2 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-6.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-6.8 0 6.8.0-1026.29~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-tegra 0 5.15.0-1033.33
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-nvidia-tegra-igx 0 5.15.0-1021.21
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-5.17 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-6.0 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-6.1 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oem-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle 0 5.15.0-1077.83
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle-6.5 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle-6.8 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-oracle-6.8 0 6.8.0-1024.25~22.04.1
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-raspi 0 No fix
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-raspi 0 5.15.0-1074.77
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS linux-realtime 0 No fix

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