# CVE-2024-44973: linux: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  mm, slub: do not call do_slab_free for kfence ob...

CVE-2024-44973 is fixed in linux on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2024-44973, released September 4, 2024. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-44973
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 5.5 (medium)
- EPSS: 0.0044
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Sep 4, 2024

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  mm, slub: do not call do_slab_free for kfence object  In 782f8906f805 the freeing of kfence objects was moved from deep inside do_slab_free to the wrapper functions outside. This is a nice change, but unfortunately it missed one spot in __kmem_cache_free_bulk.  This results in a crash like this:  BUG skbuff_head_cache (Tainted: G S  B       E     ): Padding overwritten. 0xffff88907fea0f00-0xffff88907fea0fff @offset=3840  slab_err (mm/slub.c:1129) free_to_partial_list (mm/slub.c:? mm/slub.c:4036) slab_pad_check (mm/slub.c:864 mm/slub.c:1290) check_slab (mm/slub.c:?) free_to_partial_list (mm/slub.c:3171 mm/slub.c:4036) kmem_cache_alloc_bulk (mm/slub.c:? mm/slub.c:4495 mm/slub.c:4586 mm/slub.c:4635) napi_build_skb (net/core/skbuff.c:348 net/core/skbuff.c:527 net/core/skbuff.c:549)  All the other callers to do_slab_free appear to be ok.  Add a kfence_free check in __kmem_cache_free_bulk to avoid the crash.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | linux Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 6.10.6-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2024-44973](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2024-44973.md) | Sep 4, 2024 |
| Linux | linux Debian 14 | 6.10.6-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2024-44973](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2024-44973.md) | Sep 4, 2024 |

---

Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

Free to use with attribution: show "Data: Patchblox Patch Radar" with a link to https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar. Terms, including what needs a written agreement: https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar/use-the-data

Product names, logos and trademarks shown on Patch Radar belong to their respective owners. They are used only to identify the software each security fix applies to and to help readers find their platform. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, those owners, and Patchblox is not affiliated with any of them.
