What is CVE-2024-40956?

CVE-2024-40956 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, classified as a Use After Free flaw (CWE-416), affecting Linux kernel versions from 5.11 onward and patched in 5.15.162, 6.1.96, 6.6.36 and others. CVE-2024-40956 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-40956?

CVE-2024-40956 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-40956?

Yes, CVE-2024-40956 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.15.162, 6.1.96, 6.6.36 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.11 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2024-40956 actively exploited?

CVE-2024-40956 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Use After Free (CWE-416)?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/416.html

CVE-2024-40956

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dmaengine: idxd: Fix possible Use-After-Free in irq_process_work_list Use list_for_each_entry_safe() to allow iterating through the list and deleting the entry in the iteration process. The descriptor is freed via idxd_desc_complete() and there's a slight chance may cause issue for the list iterator when the descriptor is reused by another thread without it being deleted from the list.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2024-07-12

Last modified 2025-11-03

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.8

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2024-40956 is a Use After Free vulnerability

What is Use After Free?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.11 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.15.162, 6.1.96, 6.6.36, 6.9.7, 6.10 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 5.11

Fixed in

✓ 5.15.162 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.96 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.36 6.6.x ✓ 6.9.7 6.9.x ✓ 6.10

References

6 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b08bf5a17c66ab7dbb628df5344da53c8e7ab33

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/83163667d881100a485b6c2daa30301b7f68d9b5

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a14968921486793f2a956086895c3793761309dd

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3215deca4520773cd2b155bed164c12365149a7

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/faa35db78b058a2ab6e074ee283f69fa398c36a8

Patch

Showing 5 of 6 references View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2024-40956

Severity High

CVSS score 7.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2024-07-12

Modified 2025-11-03

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-40956?

CVE-2024-40956 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.11 onward and has been patched in 5.15.162, 6.1.96, 6.6.36 and others. CVE-2024-40956 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-40956?

CVE-2024-40956 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-40956?

Yes. CVE-2024-40956 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.15.162, 6.1.96, 6.6.36 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.11 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2024-40956 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2024-40956 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.