# CVE-2024-36940: pinctrl: core: delete incorrect free in pinctrl_enable()

> A double free vulnerability in the Linux kernel pinctrl subsystem allows attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute code.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 30 May 2024
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-36940, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-36940, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-36940

## What is CVE-2024-36940?

CVE-2024-36940 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, 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:

pinctrl: core: delete incorrect free in pinctrl_enable()

The "pctldev" struct is allocated in devm_pinctrl_register_and_init().
It's a devm_ managed pointer that is freed by devm_pinctrl_dev_release(),
so freeing it in pinctrl_enable() will lead to a double free.

The devm_pinctrl_dev_release() function frees the pindescs and destroys
the mutex as well.

Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-36940?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-36940?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-36940 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-36940 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-36940 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-36940 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 30 May 2024. 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-2024-36940 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2024-36940/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-36940/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-36940
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-36940
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-36940

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-36940/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.