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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2024-49868: Linux kernel · btrfs: fix a NULL pointer dereference when failed to start a new trasacntion

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.4.0-1142.152~18.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 23:43 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
5.5Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1142.152~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1145.152~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1143.152~18.04.1 +80
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 21 Oct 2024

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-54.56
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-54.56
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1023.25
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1023.25
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1025.30
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1025.30
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.11.0-1012.12~24.04.1
Fixed in
  • 6.11.0-1012.12~24.04.1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-nvidiapkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1014.15
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1014.15
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1024.26
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1024.26

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 should be applied. Fixed kernel versions include 5.4.0-1142.152~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1145.152~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1143.152~18.04.1, 5.4.0-208.228~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1086.91~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1138.147~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1129.142~18.04.1, 5.4.0-208.228, 5.4.0-1140.150, and 5.15.0-1073.79~20.04.1. Users should upgrade to these or later kernel versions to remediate the issue.

Description

CVE-2024-49868 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Btrfs filesystem that causes a NULL pointer dereference when a new transaction fails to start. This occurs due to improper error handling in the transaction and relocation code paths, leading to a crash (general protection fault). The issue is fixed by adding a check to prevent dereferencing a NULL pointer during relocation root updates.

References

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