Kernel crash via freed MSI state reuse
Published Sep 18, 2024 · Updated May 23, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux kernel versions allows local users to crash PowerNV systems during PCIe bridge removal. The pnv_php unregistration path calls pci_disable_msi/msix after the disable path has freed and cleared the bridge's MSI data, dereferencing NULL. The condition is limited to PowerNV systems using this PCI hotplug driver and requires disabling or hot-unplugging a PCIe switch or bridge from its PHB; successful triggering interrupts the host by crashing the kernel.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux kernel versions allows local users to crash PowerNV systems during PCIe bridge removal. The pnv_php unregistration path calls pci_disable_msi/msix after the disable path has freed and cleared the bridge's MSI data, dereferencing NULL. The condition is limited to PowerNV systems using this PCI hotplug driver and requires disabling or hot-unplugging a PCIe switch or bridge from its PHB; successful triggering interrupts the host by crashing the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-46761
- Published
- Sep 18, 2024
- Updated
- May 23, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 18, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 23, 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=1fb738a3dc1304250c755e5e31715137c1c44c50
- Affected versionversion=4.10.2 <4.11
- Affected versionversion=4.11
- Affected versionversion=4.9.14 <4.10
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <335e35b748527f0c06ded9eebb65387f60647fda
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <438d522227374042b5c8798f8ce83bbe479dca4d
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <4eb4085c1346d19d4a05c55246eb93e74e671048
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <b82d4d5c736f4fd2ed224c35f554f50d1953d21e
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <bc1faed19db95abf0933b104910a3fb01b138f59
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <bfc44075b19740d372f989f21dd03168bfda0689
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <c0d8094dc740cfacf3775bbc6a1c4720459e8de4
- Affected versionversion=49f4b08e61547a5ccd2db551d994c4503efe5666 <c4c681999d385e28f84808bbf3a85ea8e982da55
- Affected versionversion=bc4c9766324a7e9fda48de58691796430c8511bf
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
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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