Kernel crash via unchecked mailbox error pointer
Published Dec 29, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026
Improper error handling in Linux 5.7 through 6.12.1 allows local users to crash the kernel through OcteonTX2 ethtool operations. The OcteonTX2 PF driver's pause-parameter and FEC handlers dereference an ERR_PTR from otx2_mbox_get_rsp instead of propagating the mailbox error. A low-privileged local user must issue affected ethtool operations against compatible Marvell hardware; a failed mailbox response can panic the kernel and interrupt the host.
Summary
What happened
Improper error handling in Linux 5.7 through 6.12.1 allows local users to crash the kernel through OcteonTX2 ethtool operations. The OcteonTX2 PF driver's pause-parameter and FEC handlers dereference an ERR_PTR from otx2_mbox_get_rsp instead of propagating the mailbox error. A low-privileged local user must issue affected ethtool operations against compatible Marvell hardware; a failed mailbox response can panic the kernel and interrupt the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-56728
- Published
- Dec 29, 2024
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-754, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 29, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.7
- Affected versionversion=75f36270990c7875c0091afb961ca37f52b6bc55 <05a6ce174c0c724e5914e1e5efd826bab8f382b4
- Affected versionversion=75f36270990c7875c0091afb961ca37f52b6bc55 <2db2194727b1f49a5096c1c3981adef1b7638733
- Affected versionversion=75f36270990c7875c0091afb961ca37f52b6bc55 <55c41b97001a09bb490ffa2e667e251d75d15ab1
- Affected versionversion=75f36270990c7875c0091afb961ca37f52b6bc55 <5ff9de1f2712cbca53da2e37d831eea7ffcb43b6
- Affected versionversion=75f36270990c7875c0091afb961ca37f52b6bc55 <6cda142cee032b8fe65ee11f78721721c3988feb
- Affected versionversion=75f36270990c7875c0091afb961ca37f52b6bc55 <c0f64fd73b60aee85f88c270c9d714ead27a7b7a
- Affected versionversion=75f36270990c7875c0091afb961ca37f52b6bc55 <e26f8eac6bb20b20fdb8f7dc695711ebce4c7c5c
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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