Linux: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2024-35857 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 23b7ee4a8d559bf38eac7ce5bb2f6ebf76f9c401, 599c9ad5e1d43f5c12d869f5fd406ba5d8c55270, d68dc711d84fdcf698e5d45308c3ddeede586350 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.98% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 23b7ee4a8d559bf38eac7ce5bb2f6ebf76f9c401 or 599c9ad5e1d43f5c12d869f5fd406ba5d8c55270 or d68dc711d84fdcf698e5d45308c3ddeede586350 or 3e2979bf080c40da4f7c93aff8575ab8bc62b767, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 5.15.158 or 6.1.90 or 6.6.30 or 6.8.9, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | d329ea5bd8845f0b196bf41b18b6173340d6e0e4 up to, but not including, 23b7ee4a8d559bf38eac7ce5bb2f6ebf76f9c401; d329ea5bd8845f0b196bf41b18b6173340d6e0e4 up to, but not including, 599c9ad5e1d43f5c12d869f5fd406ba5d8c55270; d329ea5bd8845f0b196bf41b18b6173340d6e0e4 up to, but not including, d68dc711d84fdcf698e5d45308c3ddeede586350; d329ea5bd8845f0b196bf41b18b6173340d6e0e4 up to, but not including, 3e2979bf080c40da4f7c93aff8575ab8bc62b767; d329ea5bd8845f0b196bf41b18b6173340d6e0e4 up to, but not including, c58e88d49097bd12dfcfef4f075b43f5d5830941; 5.13 | 23b7ee4a8d559bf38eac7ce5bb2f6ebf76f9c401, 599c9ad5e1d43f5c12d869f5fd406ba5d8c55270, d68dc711d84fdcf698e5d45308c3ddeede586350, 3e2979bf080c40da4f7c93aff8575ab8bc62b767, c58e88d49097bd12dfcfef4f075b43f5d5830941 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 5.13 up to, but not including, 5.15.158; 5.16 up to, but not including, 6.1.90; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.30; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.8.9; 6.9 | 5.15.158, 6.1.90, 6.6.30, 6.8.9 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 5.3 | Medium | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: icmp: prevent possible NULL dereferences from icmp_build_probe() First problem is a double call to __in_dev_get_rcu(), because the second one could return NULL. if (__in_dev_get_rcu(dev) && __in_dev_get_rcu(dev)->ifa_list) Second problem is a read from dev->ip6_ptr with no NULL check: if (!list_empty(&rcu_dereference(dev->ip6_ptr)->addr_list)) Use the correct RCU API to fix these. v2: add missing include <net/addrconf.h>
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.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/23b7ee4a8d559bf38eac7ce5bb2f6ebf76f9c401
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3e2979bf080c40da4f7c93aff8575ab8bc62b767
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/599c9ad5e1d43f5c12d869f5fd406ba5d8c55270
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c58e88d49097bd12dfcfef4f075b43f5d5830941
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d68dc711d84fdcf698e5d45308c3ddeede586350
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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