Kernel crash via freed PPS character device
Published Feb 27, 2025 · Updated Sep 8, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel PPS subsystem allows local users to crash the kernel by unregistering an open PPS source. The pps_device_destruct() path frees a pps_device containing an embedded cdev immediately after cdev_del(), although file operations on an already open /dev/ppsN device remain callable. An attacker needs local access to tear down a PPS line discipline while retaining the device descriptor; the stale cdev release can corrupt reference counts and panic the kernel.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel PPS subsystem allows local users to crash the kernel by unregistering an open PPS source. The pps_device_destruct() path frees a pps_device containing an embedded cdev immediately after cdev_del(), although file operations on an already open /dev/ppsN device remain callable. An attacker needs local access to tear down a PPS line discipline while retaining the device descriptor; the stale cdev release can corrupt reference counts and panic the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-57979
- Published
- Feb 27, 2025
- Updated
- Sep 8, 2026
- Vendor
- Siemens
- Product
- SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 27, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 8, 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=V3.1.6 <*
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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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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