CVE-2020-29661 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel TTY subsystem through version 5.9.13. A locking defect in the TTY job-control implementation, in drivers/tty/tty_jobctrl.c, permits a race involving the TIOCSPGRP ioctl to access an object after it has been freed. The upstream correction is identified as CID-54ffccbf053b.
Mallory correlates every CVE against your assets, your vendors, and active adversary campaigns. Know which vulnerabilities matter for you, not just which ones are loud.
What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.
What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.
If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.
Patch, then assume compromise.
1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository is a full exploit environment targeting the Linux kernel (version 4.1.10, ARM architecture). It includes a custom kernel module (exploit/src/module/module.c) that exposes process reference count and address information via /dev/exm, a userland exploit (exploit/src/exploit/exploit.c) that manipulates process reference counts and races process group changes via pseudo-terminals, and a proof-of-concept (exploit/src/exploit/poc.c) that demonstrates the race condition. The Makefiles and rootfs scripts automate building the kernel, root filesystem, and running the exploit in QEMU. The exploit is operational and demonstrates a local privilege escalation scenario by exploiting kernel reference counting bugs, requiring the attacker to have code execution on the target system. Notable fingerprintable endpoints include /dev/exm (the custom device), /dev/ptmx, /sbin/busybox, and /tmp/exploitsocket. The repository is structured for research and demonstration, not for weaponized deployment.
Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.
Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
19 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A Linux kernel locking issue in drivers/tty/tty_jobctrl.c that can result in a use-after-free condition.
A Linux kernel TTY job-control locking issue that can result in a use-after-free condition.
A Linux kernel tty job-control locking issue that can result in a use-after-free condition.
A Linux kernel use-after-free vulnerability caused by a locking issue in drivers/tty/tty_jobctrl.c.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.