Tcache Attacks

The Thread Local Cache (tcache), introduced in glibc 2.26, is a high-performance caching layer that provides fertile ground for exploitation due to its simplified management and fewer integrity checks.

TechniqueDescription
Tcache PoisoningOverwriting next pointers for arbitrary allocations.
House of SpiritTricking free into accepting stack pointers.
Metadata PoisoningDirectly corrupting the tcache_perthread_struct.
House of IoExploiting the tcache key field for UAF.
House of WaterAdvanced tcache metadata hijacking.
Table 1: Exploits targeting the tcache layer.