CVE-2024-40942: Linux kernel · wifi: mac80211: mesh: Fix leak of mesh_preq_queue objects
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.4.0-1132.142~18.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 11:01 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1132.142~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1137.144~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1136.145~18.04.1 +71
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 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-7003-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-2 (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-7006-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-3 (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)
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 to affected Linux kernel versions. The fix is included in kernel releases such as 5.4.0-1132.142~18.04.1 and later. Users should update their Linux kernel to one of the fixed versions provided by their distribution vendor. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official kernel updates.
Description
CVE-2024-40942 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mac80211 mesh networking code that causes a memory leak of mesh_preq_queue objects. These objects track mesh path resolutions but were not properly cleaned up when mesh paths were deleted, leading to unreferenced objects and potential resource exhaustion. The issue has been fixed by flushing these objects in the mesh_path_flush_pending() function. The vulnerability has a medium severity with a CVSS score of 5.5 and does not affect confidentiality or integrity but impacts availability due to potential denial of service from resource leaks. Multiple Linux kernel versions prior to fixed releases are affected. A patch is available and should be applied to mitigate this issue.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-40942 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-40942 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b7d7f11a291830fdf69d3301075dd0fb347ced84 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/377dbb220edc8421b7960691876c5b3bef62f89b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec79670eae430b3ffb7e0a6417ad7657728b8f95 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7518e20a189f8659b8b83969db4d33a4068fcfc3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c4c865f971fd4a255208f57ef04d814c2ae9e0dc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/617dadbfb2d3e152c5753e28356d189c9d6f33c0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/63d5f89bb5664d60edbf8cf0df911aaae8ed96a4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d81e244af521de63ad2883e17571b789c39b6549 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b7d7f11a291830fdf69d3301075dd0fb347ced84 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-2 (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-7006-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-3 (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)