CVE-2024-56549: Linux kernel · cachefiles: Fix NULL pointer dereference in object->file
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 00:47 UTC
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 27 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 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
Until a fix is applied, avoid triggering the vulnerable code path if possible.
Description
CVE-2024-56549 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's cachefiles subsystem where a NULL pointer dereference occurs in object->file during ondemand-mode operations. This happens due to inconsistent lifetime management between the allocated file descriptor and object->file, leading to a NULL pointer dereference when user-space invokes anon_fd using object->file. The issue is triggered in a sequence involving write operations and unmounting, resulting in a potential denial of service. The vulnerability has a medium severity with a CVSS score of 5.5.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-56549 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/31ad74b20227ce6b40910ff78b1c604e42975cf1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/785408bbafcfa24c9fc5b251f03fd0780ce182bd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9582c7664103c9043e80a78f5c382aa6bdd67418 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d6bba3ece960129a553d4b16f1b00c884dc0993a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f98770440c9bc468e2fd878212ec9526dbe08293 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00028.html (opens in a new tab)