CVE-2024-42138

Kernel crash via dangling line-card types pointer

Published Jul 30, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Double free in the mlxsw line-card initialization path in Linux 5.19 allows local users to trigger a kernel crash. An invalid INI file makes mlxsw_linecard_types_init() free its allocation without clearing the pointer, so later error cleanup frees the same memory again. Reachability requires mlxsw line-card initialization to process invalid INI data and then encounter a later error; published evidence establishes a service interruption but no further consequence.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Double free in the mlxsw line-card initialization path in Linux 5.19 allows local users to trigger a kernel crash. An invalid INI file makes mlxsw_linecard_types_init() free its allocation without clearing the pointer, so later error cleanup frees the same memory again. Reachability requires mlxsw line-card initialization to process invalid INI data and then encounter a later error; published evidence establishes a service interruption but no further consequence.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-42138
Published
Jul 30, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-415, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 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=5.19
  2. Affected versionversion=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <8ce34dccbe8fa7d2ef86f2d8e7db2a9b67cabfc3
  3. Affected versionversion=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <9af7437669b72f804fc4269f487528dbbed142a2
  4. Affected versionversion=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <ab557f5cd993a3201b09593633d04b891263d5c0
  5. Affected versionversion=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <f8b55a465b0e8a500179808166fe9420f5c091a1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.19; version=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <8ce34dccbe8fa7d2ef86f2d8e7db2a9b67cabfc3; version=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <9af7437669b72f804fc4269f487528dbbed142a2; version=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <ab557f5cd993a3201b09593633d04b891263d5c0; version=b217127e5e4ee0ecfce7c5f84cfe082238123bda <f8b55a465b0e8a500179808166fe9420f5c091a1

Published CVSS scores

5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8UbuntuCVSS: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

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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-415Double Free
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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