Kernel crash via stale authentication key pointer
Published Nov 9, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
A double free in Linux kernel NVMe target authentication allows local users to crash the kernel through an error path. nvmet_setup_dhgroup() frees ctrl->dh_key after a setup failure without clearing the pointer, so nvmet_destroy_auth() later frees the same allocation. Triggering the flaw requires reuse of the same controller across DH-group setup calls followed by authentication teardown, resulting in kernel memory corruption or a system crash.
Summary
What happened
A double free in Linux kernel NVMe target authentication allows local users to crash the kernel through an error path. nvmet_setup_dhgroup() frees ctrl->dh_key after a setup failure without clearing the pointer, so nvmet_destroy_auth() later frees the same allocation. Triggering the flaw requires reuse of the same controller across DH-group setup calls followed by authentication teardown, resulting in kernel memory corruption or a system crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-50215
- Published
- Nov 9, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-415, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 9, 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=6.0
- Affected versionversion=7a277c37d3522e9b2777d762bbbcecafae2b1f8d <c60af16e1d6cc2237d58336546d6adfc067b6b8f
- Affected versionversion=7a277c37d3522e9b2777d762bbbcecafae2b1f8d <c94e965f766321641ec38e4eece9ce8884543244
- Affected versionversion=7a277c37d3522e9b2777d762bbbcecafae2b1f8d <d2f551b1f72b4c508ab9298419f6feadc3b5d791
- Affected versionversion=7a277c37d3522e9b2777d762bbbcecafae2b1f8d <e61bd51e44409495d75847e9230736593e4c8710
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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