CVE-2024-32878 Use of Uninitialized Variable Vulnerability in llama.cpp
Attackers can cause crashes or potentially execute arbitrary code via a crafted GGUF file due to uninitialized variable usage in llama.cpp.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2024-32878?
CVE-2024-32878 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in ggerganov llama.cpp, published on 26 Apr 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Llama.cpp is LLM inference in C/C++. There is a use of uninitialized heap variable vulnerability in gguf_init_from_file, the code will free this uninitialized variable later. In a simple POC, it will directly cause a crash. If the file is carefully constructed, it may be possible to control this uninitialized value and cause arbitrary address free problems. This may further lead to be exploited. Causes llama.cpp to crash (DoS) and may even lead to arbitrary code execution (RCE). This vulnerability has been patched in commit b2740.
Weakness: CWE-456
Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-32878?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Ggml Llama.cpp.
How do I fix CVE-2024-32878?
No fix has been published for CVE-2024-32878 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2024-32878 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-32878 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in ggerganov llama.cpp
- CVE-2024-42479 llama.cpp allows write-what-where in rpc_server::set_tensor
- CVE-2026-34159 llama.cpp: Unauthenticated RCE via GRAPH_COMPUTE buffer=0 bypass in llama.cpp RPC backend
- CVE-2026-43629 llama.cpp b4882–b9058 Buffer Overflow in KV Cache State Restore
- CVE-2026-43631 llama.cpp b7492–b9060 Use-After-Free RCE via llama-server
- CVE-2026-43632 llama.cpp b7492–b9060 Use-After-Free in Tokenization Endpoints
Sources
Also known as GHSA-p5mv-gjc5-mwqv.