# CVE-2024-48615: Null dereference in n/a

> A null pointer dereference in libarchive's bsdtar utility allows attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted PAX extension headers.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Mar 2025
- **Updated:** 1 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** AZL-59338, AZL-59377, AZL-59385, BELL-CVE-2024-48615, GHSA-57fm-4q7w-88cr, JLSEC-2025-244

## What is CVE-2024-48615?

CVE-2024-48615 is a high-severity vulnerability in Libarchive Libarchive, published on 28 Mar 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Null Pointer Dereference vulnerability in libarchive 3.7.6 and earlier when running program bsdtar in function header_pax_extension at rchive_read_support_format_tar.c:1844:8.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-48615?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Libarchive Libarchive.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-48615?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2024-48615 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-48615 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Libarchive Libarchive

- [CVE-2024-37407](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37407/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2016-1541](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1541/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-6250](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6250/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2025-5914](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-5914/): Libarchive: double free at archive_read_format_rar_seek_data() in archive_read_support_format_rar.c (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2024-48957](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-48957/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-48615 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-48615 is a high-severity vulnerability in Libarchive Libarchive, published on 28 Mar 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-48615 exists.

Affected product: Libarchive Libarchive. 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-2024-48615/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-48615/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-48615
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-48615
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-48615

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-48615/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.