Kernel compromise via freed pdevs array access
Published Oct 21, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel 5.17 and later branches allows local users to read or alter kernel data or interrupt the host. The x86_android_tablet_probe function calls x86_android_tablet_remove, which frees the pdevs array, and then reads PTR_ERR from the freed array when platform-device registration fails. Reachability requires the x86-android-tablets driver and a registration error; published records do not explain how a local user can induce that error.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel 5.17 and later branches allows local users to read or alter kernel data or interrupt the host. The x86_android_tablet_probe function calls x86_android_tablet_remove, which frees the pdevs array, and then reads PTR_ERR from the freed array when platform-device registration fails. Reachability requires the x86-android-tablets driver and a registration error; published records do not explain how a local user can induce that error.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-49986
- Published
- Oct 21, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-416
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=5.17
- Affected versionversion=5eba0141206ea521bbcfcf5067c174e825e943dd <2fae3129c0c08e72b1fe93e61fd8fd203252094a
- Affected versionversion=5eba0141206ea521bbcfcf5067c174e825e943dd <73a98cf79e4dbfa3d0c363e826c65aae089b313c
- Affected versionversion=5eba0141206ea521bbcfcf5067c174e825e943dd <aac871e493fc8809e60209d9899b1af07e9dbfc8
- Affected versionversion=5eba0141206ea521bbcfcf5067c174e825e943dd <ba0b09a2f327319e252d8f3032019b958c0a5cd9
- Affected versionversion=5eba0141206ea521bbcfcf5067c174e825e943dd <f08adc5177bd4343df09033f62ab562c09ba7f7d
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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