CVE-2024-38538

Kernel memory disclosure via short bridge skb

Published Jun 19, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Uninitialized memory disclosure in the Linux bridge transmit path allows local users to read kernel heap data via a short skb. br_dev_xmit assumes the skb contains an Ethernet header, and br_dev_queue_push_xmit then prepends ETH_HLEN bytes that expose uninitialized headroom on bridge ports. Triggering requires locally creating a network namespace and redirecting a sub-14-byte packet with namespace-scoped network capabilities; insufficient headroom can instead panic the kernel.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uninitialized memory disclosure in the Linux bridge transmit path allows local users to read kernel heap data via a short skb. br_dev_xmit assumes the skb contains an Ethernet header, and br_dev_queue_push_xmit then prepends ETH_HLEN bytes that expose uninitialized headroom on bridge ports. Triggering requires locally creating a network namespace and redirecting a sub-14-byte packet with namespace-scoped network capabilities; insufficient headroom can instead panic the kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38538
Published
Jun 19, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 19, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1abb371147905ba250b4cc0230c4be7e90bea4d5
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <28126b83f86ab9cc7936029c2dff845d3dcedba2
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3e01fc3c66e65d9afe98f1489047a1b2dd8741ca
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5b5d669f569807c7ab07546e73c0741845a2547a
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <82090f94c723dab724b1c32db406091d40448a17
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8bd67ebb50c0145fd2ca8681ab65eb7e8cde1afc
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b2b7c43cd32080221bb233741bd6011983fe7c11
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c964429ef53f42098a6545a5dabeb1441c1e821d
  9. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f482fd4ce919836a49012b2d31b00fc36e2488f2
  10. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1abb371147905ba250b4cc0230c4be7e90bea4d5; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <28126b83f86ab9cc7936029c2dff845d3dcedba2; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3e01fc3c66e65d9afe98f1489047a1b2dd8741ca; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5b5d669f569807c7ab07546e73c0741845a2547a; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <82090f94c723dab724b1c32db406091d40448a17; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8bd67ebb50c0145fd2ca8681ab65eb7e8cde1afc; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b2b7c43cd32080221bb233741bd6011983fe7c11; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c964429ef53f42098a6545a5dabeb1441c1e821d; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f482fd4ce919836a49012b2d31b00fc36e2488f2; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.3Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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