CyberRota Analysis
AI-GeneratedThe vulnerability affects the Linux kernel's audit subsystem, specifically during the deletion of audit rules, which can lead to a use-after-free condition. This flaw allows concurrent readers to dereference freed memory, potentially resulting in system instability or exploitation. System administrators and developers managing Linux kernel environments should prioritize this issue to mitigate risks associated with rule management in the audit system.
Original NVD Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: audit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule() `audit_del_rule()` destroys `e->rule.exe` via `audit_remove_mark_rule()` before unlinking the rule from RCU-visible filter lists and waiting for a grace period. Concurrent readers in `audit_filter()` and `audit_filter_rules()` still dereference `e->rule.exe`, while the fsnotify mark can be freed on an independent lifetime path. This creates a use-after-free window during rule deletion. Fix this by unlinking the rule from the RCU-visible lists and invoking `synchronize_rcu()` before calling `audit_remove_mark_rule()` (and other rule removal helpers). This ensures that all existing RCU readers have exited the critical section before any underlying resources are destroyed.