Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2024-38538)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2024-38538). Confidential information can be exposed externally.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: bridge: xmit: make sure we have at least eth header len bytes
syzbot triggered an uninit value[1] error in bridge device's xmit path
by sending a short (less than ETH_HLEN bytes) skb. To fix it check if
we can actually pull that amount instead of assuming.
Tested with dropwatch:
drop at: br_dev_xmit+0xb93/0x12d0 [bridge] (0xffffffffc06739b3)
origin: software
timestamp: Mon May 13 11:31:53 2024 778214037 nsec
protocol: 0x88a8
length: 2
original length: 2
drop reason: PKT_TOO_SMALL
[1]
BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in br_dev_xmit+0x61d/0x1cb0 net/bridge/br_device.c:65
br_dev_xmit+0x61d/0x1cb0 net/bridge/br_device.c:65
__netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:4903 [inline]
netdev_start_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:4917 [inline]
xmit_one net/core/dev.c:3531 [inline]
dev_hard_start_xmit+0x247/0xa20 net/core/dev.c:3547
__dev_queue_xmit+0x34db/0x5350 net/core/dev.c:4341
dev_queue_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:3091 [inline]
__bpf_tx_skb net/core/filter.c:2136 [inline]
__bpf_redirect_common net/core/filter.c:2180 [inline]
__bpf_redirect+0x14a6/0x1620 net/core/filter.c:2187
____bpf_clone_redirect net/core/filter.c:2460 [inline]
bpf_clone_redirect+0x328/0x470 net/core/filter.c:2432
___bpf_prog_run+0x13fe/0xe0f0 kernel/bpf/core.c:1997
__bpf_prog_run512+0xb5/0xe0 kernel/bpf/core.c:2238
bpf_dispatcher_nop_func include/linux/bpf.h:1234 [inline]
__bpf_prog_run include/linux/filter.h:657 [in…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2024-38538 has been found in Linux kernel.
Confidential information can be exposed externally. CVSS score: 7.3/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2024-38538" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2024-38538 (Linux kernel) — CWE-908 / CVSS v3 7.3
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (CWE-908) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.3/10). Confidential information can be exposed externally.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2024-38538 linux Fixed in: 5.10.234-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2024-38538 linux-aws Fixed in: 4.4.0-1138.144
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web lists.debian.org