CVE-2024-36478

Kernel panic via unlocked null_blk configuration race

Published Jun 21, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux null_blk allows local users to panic the kernel through concurrent power and submit_queues writes. The nullb_device_power_store path can delete the gendisk while nullb_update_nr_hw_queues observes a stale non-null dev->nullb pointer and updates the queue without shared locking. Reachability requires local low-privileged access to the null_blk configfs controls; winning the race crashes the host without reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
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 null_blk allows local users to panic the kernel through concurrent power and submit_queues writes. The nullb_device_power_store path can delete the gendisk while nullb_update_nr_hw_queues observes a stale non-null dev->nullb pointer and updates the queue without shared locking. Reachability requires local low-privileged access to the null_blk configfs controls; winning the race crashes the host without reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-36478
Published
Jun 21, 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

  1. Jun 21, 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=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <1d4c8baef435c98e8d5aa7027dc5a9f70834ba16
  2. Affected versionversion=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <5d0495473ee4c1d041b5a917f10446a22c047f47
  3. Affected versionversion=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <a2db328b0839312c169eb42746ec46fc1ab53ed2
  4. Affected versionversion=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <aaadb755f2d684f715a6eb85cb7243aa0c67dfa9
  5. Affected versionversion=5.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <1d4c8baef435c98e8d5aa7027dc5a9f70834ba16; version=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <5d0495473ee4c1d041b5a917f10446a22c047f47; version=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <a2db328b0839312c169eb42746ec46fc1ab53ed2; version=45919fbfe1c487c17ea1d198534339a5e8abeae3 <aaadb755f2d684f715a6eb85cb7243aa0c67dfa9; version=5.5

Published CVSS scores

5.5CanonicalCVSS: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
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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