CVE-2024-46826

Inconsistent ELF loading via double sysctl read

Published Sep 27, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Race condition in the Linux kernel ELF loader allows local users to execute a process with inconsistent address-space randomization state. The load_elf_binary function reads the mutable randomize_va_space sysctl before setup_new_exec to set PF_RANDOMIZE, then reads it again when deciding whether to randomize the process heap. Exploitation requires privileged access to change the sysctl while an ELF image is loading, and the upstream record describes the resulting consequences only as unpredictable.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in the Linux kernel ELF loader allows local users to execute a process with inconsistent address-space randomization state. The load_elf_binary function reads the mutable randomize_va_space sysctl before setup_new_exec to set PF_RANDOMIZE, then reads it again when deciding whether to randomize the process heap. Exploitation requires privileged access to change the sysctl while an ELF image is loading, and the upstream record describes the resulting consequences only as unpredictable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-46826
Published
Sep 27, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 27, 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=2.6.25
  2. Affected versionversion=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <1cf8cd80903073440b6ea055811d04edd24fe4f7
  3. Affected versionversion=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <1f81d51141a234ad0a3874b4d185dc27a521cd27
  4. Affected versionversion=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <2a97388a807b6ab5538aa8f8537b2463c6988bd2
  5. Affected versionversion=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <53f17409abf61f66b6f05aff795e938e5ba811d1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.25; version=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <1cf8cd80903073440b6ea055811d04edd24fe4f7; version=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <1f81d51141a234ad0a3874b4d185dc27a521cd27; version=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <2a97388a807b6ab5538aa8f8537b2463c6988bd2; version=32a932332c8bad842804842eaf9651ad6268e637 <53f17409abf61f66b6f05aff795e938e5ba811d1

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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