Kernel crash via erased BPF null check
Published Jul 30, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in the BPF verifier in Linux 6.8 allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted struct_ops program. The verifier treats the test_1 state parameter as non-null and can remove its defensive null check before the program dereferences a NULL state pointer. Local low-privileged access is required, and successful exploitation interrupts the entire host by crashing the kernel without reported data disclosure or modification.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in the BPF verifier in Linux 6.8 allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted struct_ops program. The verifier treats the test_1 state parameter as non-null and can remove its defensive null check before the program dereferences a NULL state pointer. Local low-privileged access is required, and successful exploitation interrupts the entire host by crashing the kernel without reported data disclosure or modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-42151
- Published
- Jul 30, 2024
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 30, 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=2cd3e3772e41377f32d6eea643e0590774e9187c <1479eaff1f16983d8fda7c5a08a586c21891087d
- Affected versionversion=2cd3e3772e41377f32d6eea643e0590774e9187c <7f79097b0de97a486b137b750d7dd7b20b519d23
- Affected versionversion=6.8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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