Kernel crash via unset PMU callback
Published Apr 4, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Linux 6.6 through 6.8-rc3 allows local users to crash the kernel by starting perf recording. The RISC-V legacy PMU leaves ctr_get_width unset, and arch_perf_update_userpage calls the null function pointer while updating the perf user page. The crash requires CONFIG_RISCV_PMU_LEGACY=y, CONFIG_RISCV_PMU_SBI=n, and permission to invoke perf recording; no data disclosure or modification is reported.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux 6.6 through 6.8-rc3 allows local users to crash the kernel by starting perf recording. The RISC-V legacy PMU leaves ctr_get_width unset, and arch_perf_update_userpage calls the null function pointer while updating the perf user page. The crash requires CONFIG_RISCV_PMU_LEGACY=y, CONFIG_RISCV_PMU_SBI=n, and permission to invoke perf recording; no data disclosure or modification is reported.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-26796
- Published
- Apr 4, 2024
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 4, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=6.6
- Affected versionversion=cc4c07c89aada16229084eeb93895c95b7eabaa3 <682dc133f83e0194796e6ea72eb642df1c03dfbe
- Affected versionversion=cc4c07c89aada16229084eeb93895c95b7eabaa3 <e0d17ee872cf8d0f51cc561329b8e1a0aa792bbb
- Affected versionversion=cc4c07c89aada16229084eeb93895c95b7eabaa3 <e4f50e85de5a6b21dfdc0d7ca435eba4f62935c3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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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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