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CVE Record

CVE-2024-36941: wifi: nl80211: don't free NULL coalescing rule

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: nl80211: don't free NULL coalescing rule If the parsing fails, we can dereference a NULL pointer here.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-36941 is a Linux kernel Wi-Fi subsystem flaw that can trigger a NULL pointer dereference when nl80211 parsing fails. The practical business risk is service disruption, not data theft. Exploitation requires local privileges, so urgency is highest for shared Linux systems, endpoint fleets, and devices where untrusted local users or workloads can reach Wi-Fi kernel paths.

Executive priority

Treat this as a normal-cycle kernel availability fix, with accelerated handling for shared or untrusted-user Linux environments. It is not presented as remotely exploitable or actively exploited in the supplied evidence.

Technical view

The issue is CWE-476 in Linux kernel nl80211 coalescing rule handling. On a parsing failure path, code could dereference or free a NULL coalescing rule pointer, causing high availability impact. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5, AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Upstream stable commits and Debian LTS advisories are listed as remediation references.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with reachable Wi-Fi/nl80211 functionality. The source bundle identifies Linux kernel impact and Debian LTS advisories, but exact exposure depends on distribution backports, enabled kernel configuration, and deployed hardware or drivers.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privilege exploitation with no user interaction, producing availability impact only.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a local denial-of-service class issue in nl80211 error handling. The bundle provides upstream stable commit references but not detailed exploitability constraints, affected distro matrices, or proof of exploitation. Avoid assuming impact beyond kernel availability without vendor-specific confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply kernel updates from the relevant Linux distribution or vendor channel.
  • Check whether vendor packages include the referenced upstream stable commits.
  • Prioritize shared endpoints, laptops, Wi-Fi-capable servers, and multi-user Linux systems.
  • Limit untrusted local user access where immediate patching is delayed.
  • Track Debian LTS advisories if running affected Debian LTS kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across endpoints, servers, and embedded devices.
  • Confirm each distribution package marks CVE-2024-36941 fixed or backported.
  • Verify Wi-Fi/nl80211-capable systems are included in patch scope.
  • Review kernel crash logs for NULL dereference traces involving nl80211.
  • Document exceptions where Wi-Fi support is absent or unreachable.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2024-36941 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
11Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-36941Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxbe29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24, be29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24, be29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24, be29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24, be29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24, be29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24, be29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24, be29b99a9b51b0338eea3c66a58de53bbd01de24unaffected
LinuxLinux3.12, 0, 4.19.314, 5.4.276, 5.10.217, 5.15.159, 6.1.91, 6.6.31, 6.8.10, 6.9affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-476

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs