CVE-2011-4081: linux linux_kernel NULL Pointer Dereference
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2011-4081 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in linux linux_kernel. EPSS estimates a 0.45% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 39.3% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
Not severe (CVSS 5.5, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 2Timeline
- 24-05-2012PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 06-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
crypto/ghash-generic.c in the Linux kernel before 3.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and OOPS) or possibly have unspecified other impact by triggering a failed or missing ghash_setkey function call, followed by a (1) ghash_update function call or (2) ghash_final function call, as demonstrated by a write operation on an AF_ALG socket.
CVSS metrics
3 scores · 2 sources · 2 versions- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
0.45%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
39%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 0.46% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
1 foundLinux
Maturity: poc
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Ubuntu15 products
- linux< 3.11.0-12.19 | < 4.2.0-16.19
- linux-aws< 4.4.0-1002.2 | < 4.4.0-1001.10
- linux-flo< 3.4.0-1.3 | < 3.4.0-5.22
- linux-gke< 4.4.0-1003.3
- linux-goldfish< 3.4.0-1.9 | < 3.4.0-4.27
Linux1 product
- linux_kernel< 3.1
2 vendors · 16 products
References
21 links- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/10/27/2Mailing ListX Refsource MLISTPatchThird Party Advisory
- git.kernel.orgX Refsource CONFIRM
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=749475X Refsource CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.1X Refsource CONFIRMMailing ListPatchVendor Advisory
- github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/7ed47b7d142ec99ad6880bbbec51e9f12b3af74cX Refsource CONFIRMExploitPatchThird Party Advisory