# CVE-2009-3288: Null dereference in n/a

> Local users with CD-ROM access can trigger a kernel NULL pointer dereference, causing a denial of service.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.9 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Sep 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jq84-chq4-ww9x

## What is CVE-2009-3288?

CVE-2009-3288 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 22 Sep 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The sg_build_indirect function in drivers/scsi/sg.c in Linux kernel 2.6.28-rc1 through 2.6.31-rc8 uses an incorrect variable when accessing an array, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (kernel OOPS and NULL pointer dereference), as demonstrated by using xcdroast to duplicate a CD.  NOTE: this is only exploitable by users who can open the cdrom device.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-3288?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Kernel Linux Kernel, Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-3288?

No fix has been published for CVE-2009-3288 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2009-3288 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-3288 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2007-6712](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-6712/): Integer overflow in n/a (medium 4.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-3288 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-3288 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 22 Sep 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-3288 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3288/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3288/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-3288
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3288
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-3288

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3288/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.