CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2024-35870

Use After Free

Published: May 19, 2024 | Modified: Dec 19, 2024
CVSS 3.x
N/A
Source:
NVD
CVSS 2.x
RedHat/V2
RedHat/V3
5.9 MODERATE
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Ubuntu
MEDIUM

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

smb: client: fix UAF in smb2_reconnect_server()

The UAF bug is due to smb2_reconnect_server() accessing a session that is already being teared down by another thread that is executing __cifs_put_smb_ses(). This can happen when (a) the client has connection to the server but no session or (b) another thread ends up setting @ses->ses_status again to something different than SES_EXITING.

To fix this, we need to make sure to unconditionally set @ses->ses_status to SES_EXITING and prevent any other threads from setting a new status while were still tearing it down.

The following can be reproduced by adding some delay to right after the ipc is freed in __cifs_put_smb_ses() - which will give smb2_reconnect_server() worker a chance to run and then accessing @ses->ipc:

kinit … mount.cifs //srv/share /mnt/1 -o sec=krb5,nohandlecache,echo_interval=10 [disconnect srv] ls /mnt/1 &>/dev/null sleep 30 kdestroy [reconnect srv] sleep 10 umount /mnt/1 … CIFS: VFS: Verify user has a krb5 ticket and keyutils is installed CIFS: VFS: srv Send error in SessSetup = -126 CIFS: VFS: Verify user has a krb5 ticket and keyutils is installed CIFS: VFS: srv Send error in SessSetup = -126 general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0x6b6b6b6b6b6b6b6b: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI CPU: 3 PID: 50 Comm: kworker/3:1 Not tainted 6.9.0-rc2 #1 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-1.fc39 04/01/2014 Workqueue: cifsiod smb2_reconnect_server [cifs] RIP: 0010:__list_del_entry_valid_or_report+0x33/0xf0 Code: 4f 08 48 85 d2 74 42 48 85 c9 74 59 48 b8 00 01 00 00 00 00 ad de 48 39 c2 74 61 48 b8 22 01 00 00 00 00 74 69 <48> 8b 01 48 39 f8 75 7b 48 8b 72 08 48 39 c6 0f 85 88 00 00 00 b8 RSP: 0018:ffffc900001bfd70 EFLAGS: 00010a83 RAX: dead000000000122 RBX: ffff88810da53838 RCX: 6b6b6b6b6b6b6b6b RDX: 6b6b6b6b6b6b6b6b RSI: ffffffffc02f6878 RDI: ffff88810da53800 RBP: ffff88810da53800 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000001 R12: ffff88810c064000 R13: 0000000000000001 R14: ffff88810c064000 R15: ffff8881039cc000 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff888157c00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 00007fe3728b1000 CR3: 000000010caa4000 CR4: 0000000000750ef0 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: ? die_addr+0x36/0x90 ? exc_general_protection+0x1c1/0x3f0 ? asm_exc_general_protection+0x26/0x30 ? __list_del_entry_valid_or_report+0x33/0xf0 __cifs_put_smb_ses+0x1ae/0x500 [cifs] smb2_reconnect_server+0x4ed/0x710 [cifs] process_one_work+0x205/0x6b0 worker_thread+0x191/0x360 ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 kthread+0xe2/0x110 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x34/0x50 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30

Weakness

Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code.

Affected Software

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 RedHat kernel-0:5.14.0-427.24.1.el9_4 *
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 RedHat kernel-0:5.14.0-427.24.1.el9_4 *
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support RedHat kernel-0:5.14.0-284.71.1.el9_2 *
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support RedHat kernel-rt-0:5.14.0-284.71.1.rt14.356.el9_2 *
Linux Ubuntu bionic *
Linux Ubuntu esm-infra-legacy/trusty *
Linux Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux Ubuntu focal *
Linux Ubuntu jammy *
Linux Ubuntu mantic *
Linux Ubuntu noble *
Linux Ubuntu trusty *
Linux Ubuntu trusty/esm *
Linux Ubuntu upstream *
Linux Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-allwinner-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-allwinner-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-aws Ubuntu esm-infra-legacy/trusty *
Linux-aws Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-aws Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-aws Ubuntu focal *
Linux-aws Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-aws Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-aws Ubuntu noble *
Linux-aws Ubuntu trusty *
Linux-aws Ubuntu trusty/esm *
Linux-aws Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-aws-5.0 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-aws-5.0 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-aws-5.0 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-5.11 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-aws-5.11 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-5.13 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-aws-5.13 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-aws-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-aws-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-5.3 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-aws-5.3 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-aws-5.3 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-aws-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-aws-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-5.8 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-aws-5.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-aws-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-aws-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-6.8 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-aws-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu fips-preview/jammy *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/bionic *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/focal *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/jammy *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu fips/bionic *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu fips/focal *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu trusty *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-fips Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-aws-hwe Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-aws-hwe Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-aws-hwe Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-azure Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-azure Ubuntu esm-infra-legacy/trusty *
Linux-azure Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-azure Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-azure Ubuntu focal *
Linux-azure Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-azure Ubuntu noble *
Linux-azure Ubuntu trusty *
Linux-azure Ubuntu trusty/esm *
Linux-azure Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-azure-4.15 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-azure-4.15 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-azure-4.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-5.11 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-azure-5.11 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-5.13 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-azure-5.13 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-azure-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-5.3 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-azure-5.3 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-azure-5.3 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-azure-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-azure-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-5.8 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-azure-5.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-6.8 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-edge Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-azure-edge Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-azure-edge Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-fde Ubuntu focal *
Linux-azure-fde Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure-fde Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-fde-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-azure-fde-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-fde-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure-fde-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-fde-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-azure-fde-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu fips-preview/jammy *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/bionic *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/focal *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/jammy *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu fips/bionic *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu fips/focal *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu trusty *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-azure-fips Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-bluefield Ubuntu bluefield/jammy *
Linux-bluefield Ubuntu focal *
Linux-bluefield Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips-preview/jammy *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/bionic *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/focal *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/jammy *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/xenial *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips/bionic *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips/focal *
Linux-fips Ubuntu fips/xenial *
Linux-fips Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu noble *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-gcp-4.15 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-gcp-4.15 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-gcp-4.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-5.11 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gcp-5.11 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-5.13 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gcp-5.13 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gcp-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-gcp-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-5.3 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-gcp-5.3 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-gcp-5.3 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-gcp-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-gcp-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-5.8 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gcp-5.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-gcp-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-gcp-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu fips-preview/jammy *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/bionic *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/focal *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu fips-updates/jammy *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu fips/bionic *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu fips/focal *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu trusty *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gcp-fips Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-gke Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gke Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-gke Ubuntu noble *
Linux-gke Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gke Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-gke-4.15 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-gke-4.15 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-gke-4.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gke-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gke-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gke-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-gke-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-gke-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gkeop Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gkeop Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-gkeop Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gkeop-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-gkeop-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-gkeop-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-gkeop-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-gkeop-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-hwe Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-hwe Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-hwe Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-hwe-5.11 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-hwe-5.11 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-5.13 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-hwe-5.13 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-hwe-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-hwe-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-hwe-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-hwe-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-5.8 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-hwe-5.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-hwe-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-hwe-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-edge Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-hwe-edge Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-hwe-edge Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-hwe-edge Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-hwe-edge Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-ibm Ubuntu focal *
Linux-ibm Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-ibm Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-ibm Ubuntu noble *
Linux-ibm Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-ibm-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-ibm-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-ibm-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-ibm-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-ibm-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-intel Ubuntu noble *
Linux-intel Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-intel-5.13 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-intel-5.13 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-intel-iot-realtime Ubuntu realtime/jammy *
Linux-intel-iot-realtime Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-intel-iotg Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-intel-iotg Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-intel-iotg-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-intel-iotg-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-iot Ubuntu focal *
Linux-iot Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-kvm Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-kvm Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-kvm Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-kvm Ubuntu focal *
Linux-kvm Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-kvm Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-kvm Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-laptop Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-laptop Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-lowlatency Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-lowlatency Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-lowlatency Ubuntu noble *
Linux-lowlatency Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-lts-xenial Ubuntu esm-infra-legacy/trusty *
Linux-lts-xenial Ubuntu trusty *
Linux-lts-xenial Ubuntu trusty/esm *
Linux-lts-xenial Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-nvidia Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-nvidia Ubuntu noble *
Linux-nvidia Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-nvidia-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-nvidia-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-nvidia-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-nvidia-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-nvidia-6.8 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-nvidia-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-nvidia-lowlatency Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-oem Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-oem Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-oem-5.10 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oem-5.10 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-5.13 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oem-5.13 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-5.14 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oem-5.14 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-5.17 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-oem-5.17 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-5.6 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oem-5.6 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-6.0 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-oem-6.0 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-6.1 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-oem-6.1 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-6.11 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-oem-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oem-6.8 Ubuntu noble *
Linux-oem-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu esm-infra/xenial *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu noble *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-oracle-5.0 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-oracle-5.0 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-oracle-5.0 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-5.11 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oracle-5.11 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-5.13 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oracle-5.13 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oracle-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-5.3 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-oracle-5.3 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-oracle-5.3 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-oracle-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-oracle-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-5.8 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-oracle-5.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-oracle-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-oracle-6.8 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-oracle-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-raspi Ubuntu focal *
Linux-raspi Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-raspi Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-raspi Ubuntu noble *
Linux-raspi Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-raspi-5.4 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-raspi-5.4 Ubuntu esm-infra/bionic *
Linux-raspi-5.4 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-raspi-realtime Ubuntu realtime/noble *
Linux-raspi-realtime Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-raspi2 Ubuntu bionic *
Linux-raspi2 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-raspi2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-raspi2 Ubuntu xenial *
Linux-realtime Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-realtime Ubuntu realtime/jammy *
Linux-realtime Ubuntu realtime/noble *
Linux-realtime Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-riscv Ubuntu focal *
Linux-riscv Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-riscv Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-riscv Ubuntu noble *
Linux-riscv Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-riscv-5.11 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-riscv-5.11 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-riscv-5.15 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-riscv-5.15 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-riscv-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-riscv-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-riscv-5.8 Ubuntu focal *
Linux-riscv-5.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-riscv-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-riscv-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-riscv-6.8 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-starfive Ubuntu mantic *
Linux-starfive Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-starfive-5.19 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-starfive-5.19 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-starfive-6.2 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-starfive-6.2 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-starfive-6.5 Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-starfive-6.5 Ubuntu upstream *
Linux-xilinx-zynqmp Ubuntu focal *
Linux-xilinx-zynqmp Ubuntu jammy *
Linux-xilinx-zynqmp Ubuntu upstream *

Extended Description

The use of previously-freed memory can have any number of adverse consequences, ranging from the corruption of valid data to the execution of arbitrary code, depending on the instantiation and timing of the flaw. The simplest way data corruption may occur involves the system’s reuse of the freed memory. Use-after-free errors have two common and sometimes overlapping causes:

In this scenario, the memory in question is allocated to another pointer validly at some point after it has been freed. The original pointer to the freed memory is used again and points to somewhere within the new allocation. As the data is changed, it corrupts the validly used memory; this induces undefined behavior in the process. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.

Potential Mitigations

References