CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-0841NVD status: Modified

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8: NULL Pointer Dereference

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-0841 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.3% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux Kernel to 5.4.271 or 5.10.212 or 5.15.151 or 6.1.79, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7Not specified in the recordNot stated
LinuxLinux Kernel5.1 up to, but not including, 5.4.271; 5.5 up to, but not including, 5.10.212; 5.11 up to, but not including, 5.15.151; 5.16 up to, but not including, 6.1.79; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.18; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.7.65.4.271, 5.10.212, 5.15.151, 6.1.79, 6.6.18, 6.7.6
Red HatEnterprise Linux8.0; 9.0Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.16.6MediumCNA (redhat.com)
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD

Official description

A null pointer dereference flaw was found in the hugetlbfs_fill_super function in the Linux kernel hugetlbfs (HugeTLB pages) functionality. This issue may allow a local user to crash the system or potentially escalate their privileges on the system.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
  • Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
  • Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.

More NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities (CWE-476)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

All Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 vulnerabilities

Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities

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