CVE-2024-36891 maple_tree: fix mas_empty_area_rev() null pointer dereference

What is CVE-2024-36891?

CVE-2024-36891 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 30 May 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

maple_tree: fix mas_empty_area_rev() null pointer dereference

Currently the code calls mas_start() followed by mas_data_end() if the maple state is MA_START, but mas_start() may return with the maple state node == NULL. This will lead to a null pointer dereference when checking information in the NULL node, which is done in mas_data_end().

Avoid setting the offset if there is no node by waiting until after the maple state is checked for an empty or single entry state.

A user could trigger the events to cause a kernel oops by unmapping all vmas to produce an empty maple tree, then mapping a vma that would cause the scenario described above.

Weakness: CWE-476

Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-36891?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2024-36891?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Is CVE-2024-36891 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-36891 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• How this page is made

Also known as AZL-42474, BELL-CVE-2024-36891, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-36891, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-36891.