CVE-2024-40960: Linux kernel · ipv6: prevent possible NULL dereference in rt6_probe()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.4.0-1132.142~18.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 11:01 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1132.142~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1137.144~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1136.145~18.04.1 +71
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 Jul 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7004-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7006-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7008-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7009-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7019-1 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-ibmpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-ibm?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and has been released in multiple Linux kernel versions including 5.4.0-1132.142~18.04.1 and later. Users and administrators should apply these official kernel updates to remediate the issue. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond updating to a fixed kernel version.
Description
CVE-2024-40960 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's IPv6 implementation where a NULL pointer dereference can occur in the rt6_probe() function. This flaw was detected by syzbot and involves a failure to handle a NULL return from the __in6_dev_get() function, which can lead to a kernel crash (general protection fault). The issue has been addressed in multiple patched Linux kernel versions.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-40960 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-40960 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b86762dbe19a62e785c189f313cda5b989931f37 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7004-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7006-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7003-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7008-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7009-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7019-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7029-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7009-2 (opens in a new tab)