In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
tcp: prevent concurrent execution of tcp_sk_exit_batch
Its possible that two threads call tcp_sk_exit_batch() concurrently,
once from the cleanup_net workqueue, once from a task that failed to clone
a new netns.  In the latter case, error unwinding calls the exit handlers
in reverse order for the 'failed' netns.
tcp_sk_exit_batch() calls tcp_twsk_purge().
Problem is that since commit b099ce2602d8 ("net: Batch inet_twsk_purge"),
this function picks up twsk in any dying netns, not just the one passed
in via exit_batch list.
This means that the error unwind of setup_net() can "steal" and destroy
timewait sockets belonging to the exiting netns.
This allows the netns exit worker to proceed to call
WARN_ON_ONCE(!refcount_dec_and_test(&net->ipv4.tcp_death_row.tw_refcount));
without the expected 1 -> 0 transition, which then splats.
At same time, error unwind path that is also running inet_twsk_purge()
will splat as well:
WARNING: .. at lib/refcount.c:31 refcount_warn_saturate+0x1ed/0x210
...
 refcount_dec include/linux/refcount.h:351 [inline]
 inet_twsk_kill+0x758/0x9c0 net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:70
 inet_twsk_deschedule_put net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:221
 inet_twsk_purge+0x725/0x890 net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:304
 tcp_sk_exit_batch+0x1c/0x170 net/ipv4/tcp_ipv4.c:3522
 ops_exit_list+0x128/0x180 net/core/net_namespace.c:178
 setup_net+0x714/0xb40 net/core/net_namespace.c:375
 copy_net_ns+0x2f0/0x670 net/core/net_namespace.c:508
 create_new_namespaces+0x3ea/0xb10 kernel/nsproxy.c:110
... because refcount_dec() of tw_refcount unexpectedly dropped to 0.
This doesn't seem like an actual bug (no tw sockets got lost and I don't
see a use-after-free) but as erroneous trigger of debug check.
Add a mutex to force strict ordering: the task that calls tcp_twsk_purge()
blocks other task from doing final _dec_and_test before mutex-owner has
removed all tw sockets of dying netns.
                
            Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
References
        History
                    Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:30:00 +0000
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Wed, 06 Nov 2024 02:15:00 +0000
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| Weaknesses | CWE-362 | 
Wed, 09 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0000
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| Weaknesses | NVD-CWE-noinfo | |
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.11:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.11:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.11:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.11:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*  | 
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Wed, 04 Sep 2024 20:15:00 +0000
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| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: prevent concurrent execution of tcp_sk_exit_batch Its possible that two threads call tcp_sk_exit_batch() concurrently, once from the cleanup_net workqueue, once from a task that failed to clone a new netns. In the latter case, error unwinding calls the exit handlers in reverse order for the 'failed' netns. tcp_sk_exit_batch() calls tcp_twsk_purge(). Problem is that since commit b099ce2602d8 ("net: Batch inet_twsk_purge"), this function picks up twsk in any dying netns, not just the one passed in via exit_batch list. This means that the error unwind of setup_net() can "steal" and destroy timewait sockets belonging to the exiting netns. This allows the netns exit worker to proceed to call WARN_ON_ONCE(!refcount_dec_and_test(&net->ipv4.tcp_death_row.tw_refcount)); without the expected 1 -> 0 transition, which then splats. At same time, error unwind path that is also running inet_twsk_purge() will splat as well: WARNING: .. at lib/refcount.c:31 refcount_warn_saturate+0x1ed/0x210 ... refcount_dec include/linux/refcount.h:351 [inline] inet_twsk_kill+0x758/0x9c0 net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:70 inet_twsk_deschedule_put net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:221 inet_twsk_purge+0x725/0x890 net/ipv4/inet_timewait_sock.c:304 tcp_sk_exit_batch+0x1c/0x170 net/ipv4/tcp_ipv4.c:3522 ops_exit_list+0x128/0x180 net/core/net_namespace.c:178 setup_net+0x714/0xb40 net/core/net_namespace.c:375 copy_net_ns+0x2f0/0x670 net/core/net_namespace.c:508 create_new_namespaces+0x3ea/0xb10 kernel/nsproxy.c:110 ... because refcount_dec() of tw_refcount unexpectedly dropped to 0. This doesn't seem like an actual bug (no tw sockets got lost and I don't see a use-after-free) but as erroneous trigger of debug check. Add a mutex to force strict ordering: the task that calls tcp_twsk_purge() blocks other task from doing final _dec_and_test before mutex-owner has removed all tw sockets of dying netns. | |
| Title | tcp: prevent concurrent execution of tcp_sk_exit_batch | |
| References | 
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published: 2024-09-04T19:54:38.206Z
Updated: 2025-11-03T22:14:48.281Z
Reserved: 2024-08-21T05:34:56.671Z
Link: CVE-2024-44991
Updated: 2025-11-03T22:14:48.281Z
Status : Modified
Published: 2024-09-04T20:15:08.150
Modified: 2025-11-03T23:15:47.283
Link: CVE-2024-44991