CVE-2024-36938

Kernel crash via unlocked sockmap callback read

Published May 30, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel allows local users to crash the system through concurrent BPF sockmap activity. The sk_psock_data_ready helper reads saved_data_ready without sk_callback_lock while sk_psock_drop can clear that pointer under the lock, creating a race that dereferences NULL. Triggering requires local access to exercise BPF sockmap verdict handling while a mapped socket closes; the documented consequence is a kernel crash.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
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 the Linux kernel allows local users to crash the system through concurrent BPF sockmap activity. The sk_psock_data_ready helper reads saved_data_ready without sk_callback_lock while sk_psock_drop can clear that pointer under the lock, creating a race that dereferences NULL. Triggering requires local access to exercise BPF sockmap verdict handling while a mapped socket closes; the documented consequence is a kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-36938
Published
May 30, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 30, 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=4.20
  2. Affected versionversion=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <39dc9e1442385d6e9be0b6491ee488dddd55ae27
  3. Affected versionversion=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <5965bc7535fb87510b724e5465ccc1a1cf00916d
  4. Affected versionversion=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <6648e613226e18897231ab5e42ffc29e63fa3365
  5. Affected versionversion=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <772d5729b5ff0df0d37b32db600ce635b2172f80
  6. Affected versionversion=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <b397a0ab8582c533ec0c6b732392f141fc364f87
  7. Affected versionversion=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <c0809c128dad4c3413818384eb06a341633db973

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.20; version=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <39dc9e1442385d6e9be0b6491ee488dddd55ae27; version=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <5965bc7535fb87510b724e5465ccc1a1cf00916d; version=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <6648e613226e18897231ab5e42ffc29e63fa3365; version=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <772d5729b5ff0df0d37b32db600ce635b2172f80; version=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <b397a0ab8582c533ec0c6b732392f141fc364f87; version=604326b41a6fb9b4a78b6179335decee0365cd8c <c0809c128dad4c3413818384eb06a341633db973

Published CVSS scores

5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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

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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

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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