CVE-2024-50265
📋 TL;DR
A null pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's OCFS2 filesystem allows local attackers to cause a kernel panic (denial of service) by triggering a specific error condition during extended attribute removal. This affects systems using the OCFS2 filesystem, primarily in clustered storage environments.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 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...
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 →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
Local attacker triggers kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially disrupting clustered storage operations.
Likely Case
Local user causes system instability or crash through crafted filesystem operations on OCFS2 volumes.
If Mitigated
Limited to denial of service on affected OCFS2 filesystems; no privilege escalation or data corruption.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and ability to trigger specific error conditions in OCFS2 extended attribute operations.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits 0b63c0e01fba40e3992bc627272ec7b618ccaef7 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b63c0e01fba40e3992bc627272ec7b618ccaef7
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable OCFS2 module
linuxPrevent loading of OCFS2 filesystem module if not needed
echo 'install ocfs2 /bin/false' > /etc/modprobe.d/disable-ocfs2.conf
rmmod ocfs2
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to systems with OCFS2 filesystems
- Monitor for kernel panic events and investigate OCFS2-related crashes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if OCFS2 module is loaded: lsmod | grep ocfs2. If loaded, check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits or is newer than vulnerable versions. Check dmesg for OCFS2-related crashes.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- NULL pointer dereference in OCFS2 functions
- ocfs2_xa_remove errors in dmesg
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer dereference" OR "ocfs2_xa_remove" OR "kernel panic")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b63c0e01fba40e3992bc627272ec7b618ccaef7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/168a9b8303fcb0317db4c06b23ce1c0ce2af4e10
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b5369528ee63c88371816178a05b5e664c87386
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/38cbf13b2e7a31362babe411f7c2c3c52cd2734b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a7e6dcf90fe7721d0863067b6ca9a9442134692
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/86dd0e8d42828923c68ad506933336bcd6f2317d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dcc8fe8c83145041cb6c80cac21f6173a3ff0204
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd73c942eed76a014c7a5597e6926435274d2c4c
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.html
