CVE-2024-49881: Linux kernel · ext4: update orig_path in ext4_find_extent()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1073.79~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 11:13 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1073.79~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1078.87~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1072.80~20.04.1 +58
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 21 Oct 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-7166-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7166-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7166-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7186-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7186-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7194-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7166-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7276-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7277-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7301-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7303-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7304-1 (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-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-nvidiapkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia?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
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ext4: update orig_path in ext4_find_extent() In ext4_find_extent(), if the path is not big enough, we free it and set *orig_path to NULL. But after reallocating and successfully initializing the path, we don't update *orig_path, in which case the caller gets a valid path but a NULL ppath, and this may cause a NULL pointer dereference or a path memory leak. For example: ext4_split_extent path = *ppath = 2000 ext4_find_extent if (depth > path[0].p_maxdepth) kfree(path = 2000); *orig_path = path = NULL; path = kcalloc() = 3000 ext4_split_extent_at(*ppath = NULL) path = *ppath; ex = path[depth].p_ext; // NULL pointer dereference! ================================================================== BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010 CPU: 6 UID: 0 PID: 576 Comm: fsstress Not tainted 6.11.0-rc2-dirty #847 RIP: 0010:ext4_split_extent_at+0x6d/0x560 Call Trace: <TASK> ext4_split_extent.isra.0+0xcb/0x1b0 ext4_ext_convert_to_initialized+0x168/0x6c0 ext4_ext_handle_unwritten_extents+0x325/0x4d0 ext4_ext_map_blocks+0x520/0xdb0 ext4_map_blocks+0x2b0/0x690 ext4_iomap_begin+0x20e/0x2c0 [...] ================================================================== Therefore, *orig_path is updated when the extent lookup succeeds, so that the caller can safely use path or *ppath.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-49881 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-49881 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/5b4b2dcace35f618fe361a87bae6f0d13af31bc1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6766937d0327000ac1b87c97bbecdd28b0dd6599 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9fcb1717d75061d3653ed69365c8d45331815cd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6801ed1298204d16a38571091e31178bfdc3c679 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f55ecc58d07a6c1f6d6d5b5af125c25f8da0bda2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b63481b3a388ee2df9e295f97273226140422a42 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/11b230100d6801c014fab2afabc8bdea304c1b96 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b4b2dcace35f618fe361a87bae6f0d13af31bc1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7166-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7166-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7166-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7186-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7186-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7194-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7166-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7276-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7277-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7301-1 (opens in a new tab)