CVE-2024-40989

Host memory corruption via stale vCPU redistributor pointer

Published Jul 12, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in arm64 KVM virtual GIC in Linux 5.13 and later allows local users to corrupt host kernel memory through VM configuration. The vgic_v3_free_redist_region function frees a redistributor region without clearing matching rdreg pointers retained by vCPUs. Access to the KVM device and control of a virtual GIC redistributor configuration are required; dereferencing a stale pointer can corrupt host kernel memory.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
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 arm64 KVM virtual GIC in Linux 5.13 and later allows local users to corrupt host kernel memory through VM configuration. The vgic_v3_free_redist_region function frees a redistributor region without clearing matching rdreg pointers retained by vCPUs. Access to the KVM device and control of a virtual GIC redistributor configuration are required; dereferencing a stale pointer can corrupt host kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-40989
Published
Jul 12, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 12, 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=5.13
  2. Affected versionversion=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <0d92e4a7ffd5c42b9fa864692f82476c0bf8bcc8
  3. Affected versionversion=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <152b4123f21e6aff31cea01158176ad96a999c76
  4. Affected versionversion=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <48bb62859d47c5c4197a8c01128d0fa4f46ee58c
  5. Affected versionversion=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <68df4fc449fcc24347209e500ce26d5816705a77

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.13; version=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <0d92e4a7ffd5c42b9fa864692f82476c0bf8bcc8; version=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <152b4123f21e6aff31cea01158176ad96a999c76; version=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <48bb62859d47c5c4197a8c01128d0fa4f46ee58c; version=e5a35635464bc5304674b84ea42615a3fd0bd949 <68df4fc449fcc24347209e500ce26d5816705a77

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux CNACVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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