CVE-2024-50103 – This CVE describes a NULL pointer dereference v... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-50103?

CVE-2024-50103 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). This CVE describes a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Qualcomm ASoC (Audio System on Chip) driver. If exploited, it could cause a kernel panic or system crash on affected devices. This affects Linux systems using Qualcomm audio hardware with the vulnerable driver.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Qualcomm ASoC (Audio System on Chip) driver. If exploited, it could cause a kernel panic or system crash on affected devices. This affects Linux systems using Qualcomm audio hardware with the vulnerable driver.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with Qualcomm ASoC driver

Versions: Specific kernel versions containing the vulnerable code (exact range not specified in CVE, but patches available in stable kernel trees)

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Only affects systems with Qualcomm audio hardware where the lpass_cpu driver is loaded and used.

📦 What is this software?

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially requiring physical reboot of affected devices.

🟠

Likely Case

System crash or instability when the vulnerable audio driver is loaded and memory allocation fails, causing denial of service.

🟢

If Mitigated

System remains stable as the NULL check prevents dereferencing of invalid pointer.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This is a local kernel driver vulnerability requiring local access or specific conditions to trigger.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Could affect internal systems and devices using Qualcomm audio hardware, potentially causing service disruption.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires triggering the specific memory allocation failure condition in the driver probe function, which may require specific hardware conditions or malicious driver loading.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Multiple stable kernel versions (see references for specific commit hashes)

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03c9c2c2d2d0fe203dfe8f56bedbcf04e303d7c4

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version. 2. Rebuild kernel if compiling from source. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable Qualcomm ASoC driver

linux

Prevent loading of the vulnerable driver module

echo 'blacklist snd_soc_lpass_cpu' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
rmmod snd_soc_lpass_cpu

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized users from loading kernel modules
Monitor system logs for kernel panics or crashes related to audio subsystem

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if lpass_cpu driver is loaded: lsmod | grep lpass_cpu AND check kernel version against patched versions

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version includes the fix commits or check that NULL pointer check exists in the driver source code

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel panic messages
NULL pointer dereference errors in dmesg
Audio subsystem crash logs

Network Indicators:

None - this is a local kernel vulnerability

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer dereference" OR "kernel panic" OR "lpass_cpu")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-50103

CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CWE: CWE-476

Published: November 5, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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