CVE-2019-15879

Kernel memory overwrite via cryptodev use-after-free

Published May 13, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Use-after-free in the FreeBSD cryptodev module allows local users to overwrite arbitrary kernel memory through a race condition. The race leaves a kernel data structure reachable after cryptodev frees it, so an unprivileged process can continue using stale storage for kernel-memory writes. Exploitation requires an unprivileged local process and 12.1-STABLE before r356908, 12.1-RELEASE before p5, 11.3-STABLE before r356908, or 11.3-RELEASE before p9.

CVSS severity7.4
High
EPSS probability0.66%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the FreeBSD cryptodev module allows local users to overwrite arbitrary kernel memory through a race condition. The race leaves a kernel data structure reachable after cryptodev frees it, so an unprivileged process can continue using stale storage for kernel-memory writes. Exploitation requires an unprivileged local process and 12.1-STABLE before r356908, 12.1-RELEASE before p5, 11.3-STABLE before r356908, or 11.3-RELEASE before p9.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-15879
Published
May 13, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
The FreeBSD Project
Product
FreeBSD
Classifications
CWE-362, CWE-772, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 13, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=FreeBSD 12.1-RELEASE before p5, and 11.3-RELEASE before p9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The FreeBSD Project · FreeBSDversion=FreeBSD 12.1-RELEASE before p5, and 11.3-RELEASE before p9

Published CVSS scores

7.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
5.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
CWE-772Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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