# CVE-2014-3631: Null dereference in n/a

> Local attackers can crash the Linux kernel via specific keyring operations due to a NULL pointer dereference in garbage collection.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/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:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Sep 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2014-3631, GHSA-ggpq-6x2p-4r8r, UBUNTU-CVE-2014-3631

## What is CVE-2014-3631?

CVE-2014-3631 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 Sep 2014. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The assoc_array_gc function in the associative-array implementation in lib/assoc_array.c in the Linux kernel before 3.16.3 does not properly implement garbage collection, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via multiple "keyctl newring" operations followed by a "keyctl timeout" operation.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-3631?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-3631?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2014-3631 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-3631 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Linux Kernel 3.16.3 - Associative Array Garbage Collection Crash (PoC) (exploitdb)

## 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-2014-3631 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-3631 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 Sep 2014. 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-2014-3631 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-2014-3631/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3631/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-3631
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3631
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-3631

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3631/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.