CVE-2024-40937: Linux kernel · gve: Clear napi->skb before dev_kfree_skb_any() gve_rx_free_skb incorrectly leaves
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical · fixed in 5.15.0-1069.75~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 11:01 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1069.75~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1072.81~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1068.76~20.04.1 +48
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 Jul 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-6999-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7004-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7008-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7009-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7019-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7029-1 (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 should be applied. The issue is fixed in Linux kernel versions 5.15.0-1069.75~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1072.81~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1068.76~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1052.59~20.04.1, 5.15.0-121.131~20.04.1, and other related 5.15.0 releases. Users should update to these fixed kernel versions to remediate the vulnerability.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's gve driver where napi->skb is not cleared before being freed, leading to a dangling pointer. This can cause subsequent calls to napi_get_frags to reference freed memory. The issue has been fixed by clearing napi->skb prior to freeing the skb. The vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions and has a critical severity with a CVSS score of 9.8.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-40937 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-40937 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/6f4d93b78ade0a4c2cafd587f7b429ce95abb02e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/75afd8724739ee5ed8165acde5f6ac3988b485cc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d221284991118c0ab16480b53baecd857c0bc442 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ce5341c36993b776012601921d7688693f8c037 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a68184d5b420ea4fc7e6b7ceb52bbc66f90d3c50 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f4d93b78ade0a4c2cafd587f7b429ce95abb02e (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7004-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7008-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7009-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7019-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7029-1 (opens in a new tab)