# CVE-2011-4081: Null dereference in n/a

> Local users can cause a denial of service via NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's GHASH implementation by triggering specific socket operations.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 May 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v6mx-fmfw-p682

## What is CVE-2011-4081?

CVE-2011-4081 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 May 2012. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

crypto/ghash-generic.c in the Linux kernel before 3.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and OOPS) or possibly have unspecified other impact by triggering a failed or missing ghash_setkey function call, followed by a (1) ghash_update function call or (2) ghash_final function call, as demonstrated by a write operation on an AF_ALG socket.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-4081?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-4081?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2011-4081 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-4081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-4081 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-4081 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 May 2012. 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-2011-4081 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-2011-4081/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4081/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4081
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4081
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-4081

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4081/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.