CVE-2024-26993: Linux kernel · fs: sysfs: Fix reference leak in sysfs_break_active_protection()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.4.0-1128.138~18.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 10:59 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1128.138~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1133.140~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1132.141~18.04.1 +68
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 1 May 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6893-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6893-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6893-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-4 (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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs: sysfs: Fix reference leak in sysfs_break_active_protection() The sysfs_break_active_protection() routine has an obvious reference leak in its error path. If the call to kernfs_find_and_get() fails then kn will be NULL, so the companion sysfs_unbreak_active_protection() routine won't get called (and would only cause an access violation by trying to dereference kn->parent if it was called). As a result, the reference to kobj acquired at the start of the function will never be released. Fix the leak by adding an explicit kobject_put() call when kn is NULL.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-26993 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-26993 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/a90bca2228c0646fc29a72689d308e5fe03e6d78 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/43f00210cb257bcb0387e8caeb4b46375d67f30c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d43e072285e81b0b63cee7189b3357c7768a43b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac107356aabc362aaeb77463e814fc067a5d3957 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a4c99b57d43bab45225ba92d574a8683f9edc8e4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a90bca2228c0646fc29a72689d308e5fe03e6d78 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6893-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6893-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6896-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6893-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6898-4 (opens in a new tab)