CVE-2024-26960: Linux kernel · mm: swap: fix race between free_swap_and_cache() and swapoff()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.0 High · fixed in 4.15.0-1182.197~14.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 12 Nov 2026, 19:02 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 4.15.0-1182.197~14.04.1, 4.15.0-1174.187~16.04.1, 4.15.0-1182.197~16.04.1 +78
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 1 May 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 12 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6816-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6817-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6817-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6817-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6917-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6919-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6927-1 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-ibmpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-ibm?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and has been released in multiple Linux kernel versions including 4.15.0-1182.197~14.04.1 and later. Users should update to these fixed kernel versions or later to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond applying the official kernel updates.
Description
CVE-2024-26960 is a race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's memory management swap subsystem. It involves a timing window where the swapoff() function can concurrently teardown swap structures while free_swap_and_cache() is running in another thread, potentially causing use-after-free conditions. Although this issue is theoretical and has not been reproducibly triggered in tests, code review confirmed its plausibility. The fix involves synchronizing access using get_swap_device() and put_swap_device() to stall swapoff() during critical operations. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions prior to fixed releases in the 4.15 and 5.4 series, including certain Ubuntu kernel builds.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-26960 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-26960 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/82b1c07a0af603e3c47b906c8e991dc96f01688e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d85c11c97ecf92d47a4b29e3faca714dc1f18d0d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2da5568ee222ce0541bfe446a07998f92ed1643e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ede7f1d7eed1738d1b9333fd1e152ccb450b86a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0f98f6d2fb5fad00f8299b84b85b6bc1b6d7d19a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3ce4c4c653e4e478ecb15d3c88e690f12cbf6b39 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/363d17e7f7907c8e27a9e86968af0eaa2301787b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/82b1c07a0af603e3c47b906c8e991dc96f01688e (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6816-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6817-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6817-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6817-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6917-1 (opens in a new tab)