Code execution via premature read-buffer release
Published Nov 13, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Use-after-free in SSL_free_buffers in OpenSSL allows remote attackers to corrupt data, crash the process, or execute code via crafted TLS records. tls_free_buffers releases the read buffer while a record body is incomplete or application data remains unreleased, leaving live data backed by freed memory. Exposure requires an application to call SSL_free_buffers on 1.1.1 before 1.1.1y, 3.0.0 through 3.0.13, 3.1.0 through 3.1.5, 3.2.0 through 3.2.1, or 3.3.0; FIPS modules are unaffected.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in SSL_free_buffers in OpenSSL allows remote attackers to corrupt data, crash the process, or execute code via crafted TLS records. tls_free_buffers releases the read buffer while a record body is incomplete or application data remains unreleased, leaving live data backed by freed memory. Exposure requires an application to call SSL_free_buffers on 1.1.1 before 1.1.1y, 3.0.0 through 3.0.13, 3.1.0 through 3.1.5, 3.2.0 through 3.2.1, or 3.3.0; FIPS modules are unaffected.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-4741
- Published
- Nov 13, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- OpenSSL Project
- Product
- OpenSSL
- Classifications
- CWE-416
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 2025Record 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=1.1.1 <1.1.1y
- Affected versionversion=3.0.0 <3.0.14
- Affected versionversion=3.1.0 <3.1.6
- Affected versionversion=3.2.0 <3.2.2
- Affected versionversion=3.3.0 <3.3.1
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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