Medium

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel SMC-D connection dump

IdentifiersCVE-2024-26615CWE-476· NULL Pointer Dereference

CVE-2024-26615 is a Linux kernel flaw in the SMC networking subsystem, specifically in SMC-D connection diagnostic dumping code in net/smc. A crash can occur in the SMC-D connection dump path when a connection is dumped while it is still being established. In this race window, the connection may already have been registered in a link group by smc_conn_create(), but conn->rmb_desc has not yet been initialized by smc_buf_create(). The dump code then performs an illegal access to conn->rmb_desc, leading to a NULL pointer dereference in __smc_diag_dump.constprop.0 as shown by the provided kernel oops. The upstream fix adds a check before dumping to avoid dereferencing an uninitialized rmb_desc.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation causes a kernel crash due to NULL pointer dereference, resulting in denial of service. Based on the provided information, the demonstrated impact is system instability or panic in the diagnostic dump path for SMC-D connections; no evidence is provided here for privilege escalation, code execution, or information disclosure specific to this CVE.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by avoiding or restricting use of SMC-D where feasible and limiting access to interfaces or tooling that trigger SMC diagnostic dumps, such as repeated smcss -D invocation during heavy SMC-D connection churn. Operationally, avoid concurrent diagnostic dumping of SMC-D connections while large numbers of connections are being established. No complete workaround is provided in the source content beyond applying the kernel update.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply a Linux kernel version containing the upstream fix for CVE-2024-26615, which adds validation before accessing conn->rmb_desc during SMC-D connection dumps. Where vendor kernels are used, install the relevant security updates from the distribution or platform provider. The provided SUSE advisories indicate fixed kernel package updates are available in their respective patch sets; systems should be updated to the vendor-supplied fixed builds and rebooted.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

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VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

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VendorProductType

LinuxLinux Kerneloperating_system

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ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

4 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

4 SOURCESView more in app

redhat accessNews

Jan 1, 2026

RHSA-2024:3627 - Security Advisory - Red Hat Customer Portal

Linux kernel SMC-D connection-dump vulnerability involving illegal rmb_desc access.

redhat accessNews

Jan 1, 2026

RHSA-2024:3618 - Security Advisory - Red Hat Customer Portal

Linux kernel SMC-D connection-dump illegal rmb_desc access flaw.

redhat accessNews

Jan 1, 2026

RHSA-2024:10771 - Security Advisory - Red Hat Customer Portal

Linux kernel SMC-D connection-dump illegal memory-access issue.

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

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Associated malware

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Detection signatures

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Vendor-by-vendor mapping

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Social activity