CVE-2024-49983: Linux kernel · ext4: drop ppath from ext4_ext_replay_update_ex() to avoid double-free
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 03:18 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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 source code by removing the unnecessary 'ppath' pointer and correcting memory management in ext4_ext_replay_update_ex(). Users and administrators should apply the official kernel updates or patches provided by their Linux distribution vendors to remediate this issue. Since this is not a cloud service, manual patching is required. No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time.
Description
CVE-2024-49983 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ext4 filesystem code. It involves a double-free memory error in the ext4_ext_replay_update_ex() function due to improper handling of pointers during extent splitting operations. This flaw can lead to memory corruption with potential confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The issue arises because the 'path' pointer is freed twice, once directly and once indirectly via 'ppath'.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49983 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b558006d98b7b0b730027be0ee98973dd10ee0d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3ff710662e8d86a63a39b334e9ca0cb10e5c14b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5c0f4cc84d3a601c99bc5e6e6eb1cbda542cce95 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6367d3f04c69e2b8770b8137bd800e0784b0abbc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/63adc9016917e6970fb0104ee5fd6770f02b2d80 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c26d9e53e5fbacda0732a577e97c5a5b7882aaf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a34bed978364114390162c27e50fca50791c568d (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.html (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.html (opens in a new tab)