CVE-2014-3631

Linux Kernel 3.13-3.14.19 - Denial of Service via Associative Array Garbage Collection

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2014-3631. PoCs published by Emeric Nasi.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This PoC exploits a NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's associative array garbage collection (CVE-2014-3631) by creating multiple keyrings and setting a timeout to trigger a kernel panic. It demonstrates a denial-of-service condition without achieving code execution.

Description

The assoc_array_gc function in the associative-array implementation in lib/assoc_array.c in the Linux kernel before 3.16.3 does not properly implement garbage collection, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via multiple "keyctl newring" operations followed by a "keyctl timeout" operation.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Emeric Nasi · cdoslinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/36268

This PoC exploits a NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's associative array garbage collection (CVE-2014-3631) by creating multiple keyrings and setting a timeout to trigger a kernel panic. It demonstrates a denial-of-service condition without achieving code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel before 3.16.3
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local user access · keyutils library · Kernel version between 3.13.0 and 3.16.2
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (9)

Core 9
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/36268
Issue Tracking x_refsource_confirm
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1140325
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/70095
Broken Link vdb-entry x_refsource_osvdb
http://osvdb.org/show/osvdb/111298
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2378-1
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2379-1

Scores

EPSS 0.0034
EPSS Percentile 57.0%

Details

Status published
Products (1)
linux/linux_kernel 3.13 - 3.14.19
Published Sep 28, 2014
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026