CVE-2024-42235

Kernel crash via NULL page-table descriptor

Published Aug 7, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel s390 memory management allows local users to crash an affected system during allocation failure. The crst_table_upgrade error path passes a NULL page-table descriptor to crst_table_free, which dereferences it after the ptdesc conversion. Reachability requires a failed order-two GFP_KERNEL allocation, a condition described as unrealistic unless FAIL_PAGE_ALLOC fault injection is enabled.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
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 kernel s390 memory management allows local users to crash an affected system during allocation failure. The crst_table_upgrade error path passes a NULL page-table descriptor to crst_table_free, which dereferences it after the ptdesc conversion. Reachability requires a failed order-two GFP_KERNEL allocation, a condition described as unrealistic unless FAIL_PAGE_ALLOC fault injection is enabled.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-42235
Published
Aug 7, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 7, 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=6326c26c1514757242829b292b26eac589013200 <794fa52b94637d6b2e8c9474fbe3983af5c9f046
  2. Affected versionversion=6326c26c1514757242829b292b26eac589013200 <b5efb63acf7bddaf20eacfcac654c25c446eabe8
  3. Affected versionversion=6326c26c1514757242829b292b26eac589013200 <f80bd8bb6f380bc265834c46058d38b34174813e
  4. Affected versionversion=6.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6326c26c1514757242829b292b26eac589013200 <794fa52b94637d6b2e8c9474fbe3983af5c9f046; version=6326c26c1514757242829b292b26eac589013200 <b5efb63acf7bddaf20eacfcac654c25c446eabe8; version=6326c26c1514757242829b292b26eac589013200 <f80bd8bb6f380bc265834c46058d38b34174813e; version=6.6

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS: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 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

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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