Linux Kernel sock_sendpage NULL Pointer Dereference Privilege Escalation
CVE-2009-2692 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel affecting 2.6.0 through 2.6.30.4 and 2.4.4 through 2.4.37.4. The flaw exists because not all function pointers for socket operations are initialized in proto_ops structures. A local user can trigger dereference of an uninitialized/NULL handler by invoking an unavailable socket operation, demonstrated with the sendpage operation via sock_sendpage on a PF_PPPOX socket. By first using mmap to map page zero and placing attacker-controlled code at that address, the attacker can turn the NULL pointer dereference into controlled kernel-mode code execution and escalate privileges.
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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.
Mitigation
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Remediation
Patch, then assume compromise.
Exploits
No valid public exploits. Mallory filtered out 7 candidates as fakes, detection scripts, or README-only repos.
All candidate exploits were filtered out by Mallory's validation.
Affected products & vendors
Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.
Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
Recent activity
7 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
Linux kernel 2.6.x-era vulnerability in sock_sendpage leading to a NULL pointer dereference; included in SSHStalker’s legacy local kernel exploit arsenal for privilege escalation on unpatched/legacy systems.
A vulnerability where an unimplemented network socket operation points to an uninitialized handler function, causing a crash via NULL pointer dereference.
A vulnerability chain in which uninitialized function pointers can be dereferenced, allowing code execution.
A local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel caused by uninitialized proto_ops socket operation function pointers, enabling arbitrary code execution via a NULL pointer dereference and page-zero mapping.
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.