CVE-2024-53103: Linux kernel · hv_sock: Initializing vsk->trans to NULL to prevent a dangling pointer
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 4.15.0-1185.200~14.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 12 Nov 2026, 19:17 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 4.15.0-1185.200~14.04.1, 4.15.0-1177.190~16.04.1, 4.15.0-1185.200~16.04.1 +95
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 2 Dec 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 12 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7233-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7234-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7235-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7236-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7237-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7238-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7236-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7233-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7234-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7235-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7238-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7233-3 (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.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and included in updated Linux kernel packages for affected Ubuntu releases (16.04 LTS, 18.04 LTS, and others). Users should update their systems to the fixed kernel versions listed in the vendor advisory and reboot to apply the changes. Due to an ABI change, recompilation and reinstallation of third-party kernel modules may be required. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor.
Description
CVE-2024-53103 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's hv_sock (Hyper-V socket) driver where the vsk->trans pointer may not be initialized to NULL upon release, potentially leading to a dangling pointer. This flaw was fixed by explicitly initializing vsk->trans to NULL. The vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions used in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and 18.04 LTS, among others. A patch is available and included in updated kernel packages. Users should apply the updates and reboot to mitigate the issue.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-53103 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-53103 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/e629295bd60abf4da1db85b82819ca6a4f6c1e79 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/285266ef92f7b4bf7d26e1e95e215ce6a6badb4a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/414476c4fb11be070c09ab8f3e75c9ee324a108a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bdc5a62c6e50600d8a1c3e18fd6dce0c27c9497 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4fe1d42f2acc463b733bb42e3f8e67dbc2a0eb2d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7cf25987820350cb950856c71b409e5b6eed52bd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8621725afb38e111969c64280b71480afde2aace (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/98d8dde9232250a57ad5ef16479bf6a349e09b80 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0fe3392371293175f25028020ded5267f4cd8e3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e629295bd60abf4da1db85b82819ca6a4f6c1e79 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7233-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7234-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7235-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7236-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7237-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7238-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7236-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7233-2 (opens in a new tab)