CVE-2024-49861: Linux kernel · bpf: Fix helper writes to read-only maps
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 00:40 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 21 Oct 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel by correcting the argument annotations and enforcing proper memory access checks in BPF helpers. Users should update their Linux kernel to a version that includes this fix. Since this is not a cloud service, manual patching is required. No alternative mitigations or workarounds are indicated in the available data.
Description
CVE-2024-49861 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF subsystem where certain helpers could write to read-only BPF maps. This flaw allowed bypassing intended read-only protections by exploiting argument handling in BPF helper functions. The issue arises from improper annotation of helper arguments, leading to incorrect memory access assumptions. The vulnerability has been fixed by correcting argument annotations and enforcing alignment and memory access rules.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49861 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e75d25133158b525e0456876e9bcfd6b2993fd5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ed98ee02d1e08afee88f54baec39ea78dc8a23c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/32556ce93bc45c730829083cb60f95a2728ea48b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/988e55abcf7fdb8fc9a76a7cf3f4e939a4d4fb3a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2c8dc7e21803257e762b0bf067fd13e9c995da0 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00001.html (opens in a new tab)