CVE-2024-36892

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/slub: avoid zeroing outside-object freepointer for single free Commit 284f17ac13fe ("mm/slub: handle bulk and single object freeing separately") splits single and bulk object freeing in two functions slab_free() and slab_free_bulk() which leads slab_free() to call slab_free_hook() directly instead of slab_free_freelist_hook(). If `init_on_free` is set, slab_free_hook() zeroes the object. Afterward, if `slub_debug=F` and `CONFIG_SLAB_FREELIST_HARDENED` are set, the do_slab_free() slowpath executes freelist consistency checks and try to decode a zeroed freepointer which leads to a "Freepointer corrupt" detection in check_object(). During bulk free, slab_free_freelist_hook() isn't affected as it always sets it objects freepointer using set_freepointer() to maintain its reconstructed freelist after `init_on_free`. For single free, object's freepointer thus needs to be avoided when stored outside the object if `init_on_free` is set. The freepointer left as is, check_object() may later detect an invalid pointer value due to objects overflow. To reproduce, set `slub_debug=FU init_on_free=1 log_level=7` on the command line of a kernel build with `CONFIG_SLAB_FREELIST_HARDENED=y`. dmesg sample log: [ 10.708715] ============================================================================= [ 10.710323] BUG kmalloc-rnd-05-32 (Tainted: G B T ): Freepointer corrupt [ 10.712695] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ 10.712695] [ 10.712695] Slab 0xffffd8bdc400d580 objects=32 used=4 fp=0xffff9d9a80356f80 flags=0x200000000000a00(workingset|slab|node=0|zone=2) [ 10.716698] Object 0xffff9d9a80356600 @offset=1536 fp=0x7ee4f480ce0ecd7c [ 10.716698] [ 10.716698] Bytes b4 ffff9d9a803565f0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ [ 10.720703] Object ffff9d9a80356600: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ [ 10.720703] Object ffff9d9a80356610: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ [ 10.724696] Padding ffff9d9a8035666c: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ [ 10.724696] Padding ffff9d9a8035667c: 00 00 00 00 .... [ 10.724696] FIX kmalloc-rnd-05-32: Object at 0xffff9d9a80356600 not freed

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2024-05-30
Last modified 2025-09-18
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2024-36892 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2024-36892 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2024-36892?

    CVE-2024-36892 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . CVE-2024-36892 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-36892?

    CVE-2024-36892 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-36892?

    No patch is currently available for CVE-2024-36892. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

  • Is CVE-2024-36892 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2024-36892 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

    The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →