CVE-2024-42270

Kernel crash via netfilter initialization race

Published Aug 17, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux kernel releases from 5.15 allows local users to crash the kernel during iptables NAT setup. The iptable_nat_table_init() path becomes visible before per-network-namespace NAT state is registered, so a racing call dereferences an unavailable net_generic() slot. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and precise timing during network-namespace initialization; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel crash, not data access or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux kernel releases from 5.15 allows local users to crash the kernel during iptables NAT setup. The iptable_nat_table_init() path becomes visible before per-network-namespace NAT state is registered, so a racing call dereferences an unavailable net_generic() slot. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and precise timing during network-namespace initialization; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel crash, not data access or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-42270
Published
Aug 17, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 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=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <08ed888b69a22647153fe2bec55b7cd0a46102cc
  3. Affected versionversion=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <5830aa863981d43560748aa93589c0695191d95d
  4. Affected versionversion=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <70014b73d7539fcbb6b4ff5f37368d7241d8e626
  5. Affected versionversion=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <95590a4929027769af35b153645c0ab6fd22b29b
  6. Affected versionversion=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <b98ddb65fa1674b0e6b52de8af9103b63f51b643

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.15; version=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <08ed888b69a22647153fe2bec55b7cd0a46102cc; version=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <5830aa863981d43560748aa93589c0695191d95d; version=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <70014b73d7539fcbb6b4ff5f37368d7241d8e626; version=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <95590a4929027769af35b153645c0ab6fd22b29b; version=fdacd57c79b79a03c7ca88f706ad9fb7b46831c1 <b98ddb65fa1674b0e6b52de8af9103b63f51b643

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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 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-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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