# CVE-2024-47728: bpf: Zero former ARG_PTR_TO_{LONG,INT} args in case of error

> An attacker with BPF access can read uninitialized kernel memory via specific helper functions, potentially exposing sensitive data.

- **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:** 21 Oct 2024
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-50703, AZL-50972, BELL-CVE-2024-47728, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-47728, GHSA-8vqp-74w3-mg32, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2024-47728, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2024-47728, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-47728

## What is CVE-2024-47728?

CVE-2024-47728 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Oct 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:

bpf: Zero former ARG_PTR_TO_{LONG,INT} args in case of error

For all non-tracing helpers which formerly had ARG_PTR_TO_{LONG,INT} as input
arguments, zero the value for the case of an error as otherwise it could leak
memory. For tracing, it is not needed given CAP_PERFMON can already read all
kernel memory anyway hence bpf_get_func_arg() and bpf_get_func_ret() is skipped
in here.

Also, the MTU helpers mtu_len pointer value is being written but also read.
Technically, the MEM_UNINIT should not be there in order to always force init.
Removing MEM_UNINIT needs more verifier rework though: MEM_UNINIT right now
implies two things actually: i) write into memory, ii) memory does not have
to be initialized. If we lift MEM_UNINIT, it then becomes: i) read into memory,
ii) memory must be initialized. This means that for bpf_*_check_mtu() we're
readding the issue we're trying to fix, that is, it would then be able to
write back into things like .rodata BPF maps. Follow-up work will rework the
MEM_UNINIT semantics such that the intent can be better expressed. For now
just clear the *mtu_len on error path which can be lifted later again.

Weakness: CWE-459 (Incomplete Cleanup)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-47728?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-47728?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-47728 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-47728 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-2024-47728 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-47728 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Oct 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-2024-47728 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-2024-47728/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47728/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-47728
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-47728
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-47728

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47728/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.