CVE-2024-50264 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
vsock/virtio: Initialization of the dangling pointer occurring in vsk->trans
During loopback communication, a dangling pointer can be created in vsk->trans, potentially leading to a Use-After-Free condition. This issue is resolved by initializing vsk->trans to NULL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-50264 resides within the Linux kernel's virtual socket implementation, specifically affecting the vsock/virtio subsystem that handles virtual socket communication between guest and host environments in virtualized systems. This flaw manifests during loopback communication scenarios where the kernel's virtual socket layer creates a dangerous dangling pointer condition in the vsk->trans field, representing a critical security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability represents a classic use-after-free condition that occurs when memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The issue affects virtualized environments where vsock communication is utilized, particularly in cloud computing platforms, containerized environments, and virtual machine deployments that rely on virtio transport mechanisms for inter-VM or host-VM communication.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper initialization of the vsk->trans pointer within the virtual socket structure during the loopback communication initialization process. When virtual sockets are established for loopback communication, the trans field remains uninitialized, creating a dangling pointer that points to memory that may have been freed or reallocated. This condition allows attackers to potentially manipulate the pointer to point to controlled memory locations, enabling exploitation techniques such as heap spraying or memory corruption attacks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 as Use-After-Free, which occurs when a pointer is used after the memory it references has been freed, and also relates to CWE-825 as Excessive Initialization of Pointers, where pointers are not properly initialized to NULL. The flaw specifically impacts the vsock transport layer implementation in the Linux kernel, making it particularly dangerous in virtualized environments where multiple VMs may communicate through shared vsock interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-50264 extends beyond simple system instability, as it creates potential attack vectors for privilege escalation and system compromise within virtualized infrastructures. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise of virtual machines or host systems. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernel versions that include the vsock/virtio implementation, particularly those in cloud environments, container orchestration platforms, and virtual desktop infrastructures where loopback communication is frequently utilized. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could be leveraged to break out of virtual machine isolation, potentially enabling attackers to access other VMs on the same host or compromise the underlying physical infrastructure. The attack surface is significant in cloud computing platforms where vsock communication is used for inter-VM networking, container-to-container communication, and hypervisor management interfaces, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on virtualized infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-50264 involve immediate patching of affected Linux kernel versions, with the fix implementing proper initialization of the vsk->trans field to NULL during socket creation. System administrators should prioritize updating their kernel versions to include the patched implementation, which resolves the dangling pointer issue by ensuring the trans field is properly initialized before any communication occurs. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual network activity or memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The fix aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell, where attackers might attempt to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. Additional defensive measures include restricting virtual socket communication where possible, implementing network segmentation between VMs, and ensuring that only necessary vsock services are enabled. Security teams should also consider implementing kernel hardening measures such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and control flow integrity checks to further reduce the exploitability of similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in the kernel's networking subsystem.