CVE-2024-50164: Linux kernel · bpf: Fix overloading of MEM_UNINIT's meaning
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 14:17 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|
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 7 Nov 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 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Linux Linux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available for this vulnerability in Linux kernel versions 5.15.45, 5.17.13, and 5.18.2. Users and administrators should apply these kernel updates to remediate the issue. No alternative mitigations are indicated in the advisory.
Description
CVE-2024-50164 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF verifier related to improper handling of memory initialization flags. The flaw allows a BPF program to write to read-only maps by exploiting an overloaded meaning of the MEM_UNINIT flag, bypassing write checks in the verifier. The issue arises because MEM_UNINIT was used both to indicate uninitialized memory and memory being written to, causing the verifier to skip necessary write validations. The fix reverts MEM_UNINIT to its original meaning and introduces MEM_WRITE annotations to enforce proper write checks.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/43f4df339a4d375bedcad29a61ae6f0ee7a048f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/48068ccaea957469f1adf78dfd2c1c9a7e18f0fe (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/54bc31682660810af1bed7ca7a19f182df8d3df8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ea607330a39184f51737c6ae706db7fdca7628e (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00001.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)