CVE-2020-36788

Local kernel compromise via failed Nouveau BO initialization

Published May 21, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Nouveau DRM driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a GEM allocation. If nouveau_bo_init() fails, ttm_bo_init() invokes nouveau_bo_del_ttm() and frees the GEM object, but nouveau_gem_new() then releases the same object again. Any local user able to open a Nouveau DRM render or primary node can reach the path through an allocation ioctl, enabling kernel memory reads or writes or a kernel crash, panic, or hang.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
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 Nouveau DRM driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a GEM allocation. If nouveau_bo_init() fails, ttm_bo_init() invokes nouveau_bo_del_ttm() and frees the GEM object, but nouveau_gem_new() then releases the same object again. Any local user able to open a Nouveau DRM render or primary node can reach the path through an allocation ioctl, enabling kernel memory reads or writes or a kernel crash, panic, or hang.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36788
Published
May 21, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record 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=019cbd4a4feb3aa3a917d78e7110e3011bbff6d5 <548f2ff8ea5e0ce767ae3418d1ec5308990be87d
  2. Affected versionversion=019cbd4a4feb3aa3a917d78e7110e3011bbff6d5 <bcf34aa5082ee2343574bc3f4d1c126030913e54
  3. Affected versionversion=019cbd4a4feb3aa3a917d78e7110e3011bbff6d5 <f86e19d918a85492ad1a01fcdc0ad5ecbdac6f96
  4. Affected versionversion=5.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=019cbd4a4feb3aa3a917d78e7110e3011bbff6d5 <548f2ff8ea5e0ce767ae3418d1ec5308990be87d; version=019cbd4a4feb3aa3a917d78e7110e3011bbff6d5 <bcf34aa5082ee2343574bc3f4d1c126030913e54; version=019cbd4a4feb3aa3a917d78e7110e3011bbff6d5 <f86e19d918a85492ad1a01fcdc0ad5ecbdac6f96; version=5.4

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
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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