Linux: Access of Uninitialized Pointer
CVE-2024-50088 is a high-severity access of uninitialized pointer vulnerability in Linux, 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. The record lists versions 12cf028381aa19bc38465341512c280256e8d82d, e11ce03b58743bf1e096c48fcaa7e6f08eb75dfa, a941f3d5b1469c60a7e70e775584f110b47e0d16 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 0.21% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 12cf028381aa19bc38465341512c280256e8d82d or e11ce03b58743bf1e096c48fcaa7e6f08eb75dfa or a941f3d5b1469c60a7e70e775584f110b47e0d16 or 66691c6e2f18d2aa4b22ffb624b9bdc97e9979e4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.1.114 or 6.6.58 or 6.11.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 1cf474cd474bc5d3ef63086ffd009a87a5b7bb2e up to, but not including, 12cf028381aa19bc38465341512c280256e8d82d; e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e up to, but not including, e11ce03b58743bf1e096c48fcaa7e6f08eb75dfa; e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e up to, but not including, a941f3d5b1469c60a7e70e775584f110b47e0d16; e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e up to, but not including, 66691c6e2f18d2aa4b22ffb624b9bdc97e9979e4; 6.1.57 up to, but not including, 6.1.114; 6.2 | 12cf028381aa19bc38465341512c280256e8d82d, e11ce03b58743bf1e096c48fcaa7e6f08eb75dfa, a941f3d5b1469c60a7e70e775584f110b47e0d16, 66691c6e2f18d2aa4b22ffb624b9bdc97e9979e4, 6.1.114 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.1.57 up to, but not including, 6.1.114; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.58; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.11.5; 6.12 | 6.1.114, 6.6.58, 6.11.5 |
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 system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: btrfs: fix uninitialized pointer free in add_inode_ref() The add_inode_ref() function does not initialize the "name" struct when it is declared. If any of the following calls to "read_one_inode() returns NULL, dir = read_one_inode(root, parent_objectid); if (!dir) { ret = -ENOENT; goto out; } inode = read_one_inode(root, inode_objectid); if (!inode) { ret = -EIO; goto out; } then "name.name" would be freed on "out" before being initialized. out: ... kfree(name.name); This issue was reported by Coverity with CID 1526744.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Access of Uninitialized Pointer
The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized.
More Access of Uninitialized Pointer vulnerabilities (CWE-824)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Recent Access of Uninitialized Pointer vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.