It is quite common to encounter vulnerabilities that, in one way or another, can compromise privacy on the network. These flaws can affect operating systems, applications that we have installed, drivers… In this article, we discuss a security flaw that affects the Linux kernel and that could allow hackers to access unauthorized data. We are going to explain to you what it is and how you should avoid it.
This vulnerability has been registered as CVE-2024-26925. It has been identified as critical and affects the netfilter subsystem, within the nf_tables component. This is key for packet filtering and classification. This is what would allow a hypothetical attacker to access unauthorized data if the vulnerability was exploited.
Linux kernel bug
But what exactly does this failure consist of? The vulnerability appeared after the incorrect release of a mutex within the sequence known as Garbage Collector, which is responsible for automatically managing memory, in the nf_tables sequence. This commit mutex should remain locked to prevent leaks.
The problem is that, as confirmed with this vulnerability, nf_tables_module_autoload() was freeing that mutex. That, exploited properly, puts the security of the Linux kernel at risk. They could collect expired objects and get the commit lock released within that Garbage Collector stream.
It should be noted that this failure could affect many systems. Especially vulnerable are those that use nf_tables for filtering network packets. This could cause failures in these systems, in addition to allowing an attacker to access data where they would not have authorization.
How to solve the problem
So, what can you do to fix this bug that affects the Linux kernel? Those responsible for the security of the Linux kernel strongly recommend updating to the latest stable version. It is something that is always present when a failure of this type appears. At RedesZone, we always recommend having the latest updates to correct operating or security problems.
On the website of CVE You can see the log of the different versions of the Linux kernel that are affected by this problem. This will help you know if your specific system is vulnerable or not. If it is, it is essential that you take action as soon as possible and that means updating to the latest available version. It will help you correct this problem, in addition to others that may exist and that affect the version you have installed.
You must apply these types of updates at all times. In this case it is a specific security flaw that affects the Linux kernel. However, it may also be a problem that affects the Windows operating system, Android, an application you have installed, etc. In general, bugs can affect all types of software.
In short, to continue using Linux safely, it is important that you update the kernel version. You can always control folder permissions in Linux, for example, in order to enhance security.
