Kernel crash via premature device-tree node release
Published Jan 11, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel rswitch driver allows local users to crash the system through device-tree node reuse. The rswitch_device_alloc function releases rdev->np_port after reading its Ethernet address even though later initialization retains and dereferences that device-tree node. The faulty path requires the Renesas Ethernet Switch driver and matching device-tree hardware; successful triggering interrupts the host.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel rswitch driver allows local users to crash the system through device-tree node reuse. The rswitch_device_alloc function releases rdev->np_port after reading its Ethernet address even though later initialization retains and dereferences that device-tree node. The faulty path requires the Renesas Ethernet Switch driver and matching device-tree hardware; successful triggering interrupts the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-55639
- Published
- Jan 11, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 11, 2025CVE 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.3
- Affected versionversion=b46f1e5793298c67efc2f1b917350a2cefacf9d6 <66b7e9f85b8459c823b11e9af69dbf4be5eb6be8
- Affected versionversion=b46f1e5793298c67efc2f1b917350a2cefacf9d6 <92007a28f95413058a7268dc84e5f44b700165d1
- Affected versionversion=b46f1e5793298c67efc2f1b917350a2cefacf9d6 <bf8c6755f02029d1eddc3ff19b870240f054afc7
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
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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