Linux Kernel up to 6.9-rc4 sysfs sysfs_break_active_protection null pointer dereference

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.156/6.1.87/6.6.28/6.8.7/6.9-rc4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function sysfs_break_active_protection of the component sysfs. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference.
This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2024-26993. No exploit is available.
Upgrading the affected component is advised.
Details
A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.156/6.1.87/6.6.28/6.8.7/6.9-rc4 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function sysfs_break_active_protection of the component sysfs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs: sysfs: Fix reference leak in sysfs_break_active_protection() The sysfs_break_active_protection() routine has an obvious reference leak in its error path. If the call to kernfs_find_and_get() fails then kn will be NULL, so the companion sysfs_unbreak_active_protection() routine won't get called (and would only cause an access violation by trying to dereference kn->parent if it was called). As a result, the reference to kobj acquired at the start of the function will never be released. Fix the leak by adding an explicit kobject_put() call when kn is NULL.
The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2024-26993 since 02/19/2024. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 215757 (Azure Linux 3.0 Security Update: hyperv-daemons (CVE-2024-26993)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 5.15.157, 6.1.88, 6.6.29, 6.8.8 or 6.9-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 43f00210cb25/5d43e072285e/ac107356aabc/a4c99b57d43b/a90bca2228c0 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (215757) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2024-1008). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Affected
- Debian Linux
- Amazon Linux 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Ubuntu Linux
- SUSE Linux
- Oracle Linux
- Oracle VM
- EMC Avamar
- IBM QRadar SIEM
- Dell NetWorker
- IBM Security Guardium
- RESF Rocky Linux
- Broadcom Brocade SANnav
- Open Source Linux Kernel
- IBM Business Automation Workflow
- IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
- Dell Avamar
- Juniper Junos Space
- IBM DataPower Gateway
- IBM Storage Scale System
- SolarWinds Security Event Manager
- Dell PowerProtect Data Domain
- Dell PowerScale OneFS
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 5.15.156
- 6.1.0
- 6.1.1
- 6.1.2
- 6.1.3
- 6.1.4
- 6.1.5
- 6.1.6
- 6.1.7
- 6.1.8
- 6.1.9
- 6.1.10
- 6.1.11
- 6.1.12
- 6.1.13
- 6.1.14
- 6.1.15
- 6.1.16
- 6.1.17
- 6.1.18
- 6.1.19
- 6.1.20
- 6.1.21
- 6.1.22
- 6.1.23
- 6.1.24
- 6.1.25
- 6.1.26
- 6.1.27
- 6.1.28
- 6.1.29
- 6.1.30
- 6.1.31
- 6.1.32
- 6.1.33
- 6.1.34
- 6.1.35
- 6.1.36
- 6.1.37
- 6.1.38
- 6.1.39
- 6.1.40
- 6.1.41
- 6.1.42
- 6.1.43
- 6.1.44
- 6.1.45
- 6.1.46
- 6.1.47
- 6.1.48
- 6.1.49
- 6.1.50
- 6.1.51
- 6.1.52
- 6.1.53
- 6.1.54
- 6.1.55
- 6.1.56
- 6.1.57
- 6.1.58
- 6.1.59
- 6.1.60
- 6.1.61
- 6.1.62
- 6.1.63
- 6.1.64
- 6.1.65
- 6.1.66
- 6.1.67
- 6.1.68
- 6.1.69
- 6.1.70
- 6.1.71
- 6.1.72
- 6.1.73
- 6.1.74
- 6.1.75
- 6.1.76
- 6.1.77
- 6.1.78
- 6.1.79
- 6.1.80
- 6.1.81
- 6.1.82
- 6.1.83
- 6.1.84
- 6.1.85
- 6.1.86
- 6.1.87
- 6.6.0
- 6.6.1
- 6.6.2
- 6.6.3
- 6.6.4
- 6.6.5
- 6.6.6
- 6.6.7
- 6.6.8
- 6.6.9
- 6.6.10
- 6.6.11
- 6.6.12
- 6.6.13
- 6.6.14
- 6.6.15
- 6.6.16
- 6.6.17
- 6.6.18
- 6.6.19
- 6.6.20
- 6.6.21
- 6.6.22
- 6.6.23
- 6.6.24
- 6.6.25
- 6.6.26
- 6.6.27
- 6.6.28
- 6.8.0
- 6.8.1
- 6.8.2
- 6.8.3
- 6.8.4
- 6.8.5
- 6.8.6
- 6.8.7
- 6.9-rc1
- 6.9-rc2
- 6.9-rc3
- 6.9-rc4
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Null pointer dereferenceCWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 215757
Nessus Name: Azure Linux 3.0 Security Update: hyperv-daemons (CVE-2024-26993)
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.157/6.1.88/6.6.29/6.8.8/6.9-rc5
Patch: 43f00210cb25/5d43e072285e/ac107356aabc/a4c99b57d43b/a90bca2228c0
Timeline
02/19/2024 🔍05/01/2024 🔍
05/01/2024 🔍
02/06/2026 🔍
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2024-26993 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2024-26993
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-262570
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2024-1008 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service
Entry
Created: 05/01/2024 07:45Updated: 02/06/2026 19:13
Changes: 05/01/2024 07:45 (58), 12/23/2024 21:54 (12), 02/12/2025 02:39 (2), 08/03/2025 00:50 (7), 11/11/2025 02:12 (1), 02/06/2026 19:13 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
No comments yet. Languages: en.
Please log in to comment.