CVE-2024-26587

Local kernel crash via uninitialized VF PHC teardown

Published Feb 22, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.6 netdevsim allows local users to crash the kernel when deleting a device with VFs. The teardown path calls mock_phc_destroy() for a virtual function even though nsim_init_netdevsim() initializes the PHC only for physical functions. The netdevsim device must have virtual functions instantiated, and reaching the deletion path requires local low-privileged access.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.6 netdevsim allows local users to crash the kernel when deleting a device with VFs. The teardown path calls mock_phc_destroy() for a virtual function even though nsim_init_netdevsim() initializes the PHC only for physical functions. The netdevsim device must have virtual functions instantiated, and reaching the deletion path requires local low-privileged access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-26587
Published
Feb 22, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 22, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=6.6
  2. Affected versionversion=b63e78fca889e07931ec8f259701718a24e5052e <08aca65997fb6f233066883b1f1e653bcb1f26ca
  3. Affected versionversion=b63e78fca889e07931ec8f259701718a24e5052e <c5068e442eed063d2f1658e6b6d3c1c6fcf1e588
  4. Affected versionversion=b63e78fca889e07931ec8f259701718a24e5052e <ea937f77208323d35ffe2f8d8fc81b00118bfcda

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.6; version=b63e78fca889e07931ec8f259701718a24e5052e <08aca65997fb6f233066883b1f1e653bcb1f26ca; version=b63e78fca889e07931ec8f259701718a24e5052e <c5068e442eed063d2f1658e6b6d3c1c6fcf1e588; version=b63e78fca889e07931ec8f259701718a24e5052e <ea937f77208323d35ffe2f8d8fc81b00118bfcda

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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-476NULL Pointer Dereference

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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