CVE-2024-38555

Kernel memory corruption via stale firmware completion

Published Jun 19, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

A use-after-free in the Linux kernel mlx5 command interface allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during an internal device error. In drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/cmd.c, mlx5_cmd_comp_handler processes a firmware completion after mlx5_cmd_flush has released the command entry, causing a second reference drop and stale-pointer access. Reachability requires an mlx5 PCI device, low-privileged local access, an internal-error transition, and a completion in the narrow flush window; outcomes include kernel data exposure, arbitrary writes, and a panic.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

A use-after-free in the Linux kernel mlx5 command interface allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during an internal device error. In drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/cmd.c, mlx5_cmd_comp_handler processes a firmware completion after mlx5_cmd_flush has released the command entry, causing a second reference drop and stale-pointer access. Reachability requires an mlx5 PCI device, low-privileged local access, an internal-error transition, and a completion in the narrow flush window; outcomes include kernel data exposure, arbitrary writes, and a panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38555
Published
Jun 19, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=27c79b3a9212cf4ba634c157e07d29548181a208 <f6fbb8535e990f844371086ab2c1221f71f993d3
  2. Affected versionversion=2e5d24b3bf091802c5456dc8f8f6a6be4493c8ca
  3. Affected versionversion=5.10.20 <5.10.219
  4. Affected versionversion=5.11.3 <5.12
  5. Affected versionversion=5.12
  6. Affected versionversion=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <1337ec94bc5a9eed250e33f5f5c89a28a6bfabdb
  7. Affected versionversion=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <1d5dce5e92a70274de67a59e1e674c3267f94cd7
  8. Affected versionversion=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <3cb92b0ad73d3f1734e812054e698d655e9581b0
  9. Affected versionversion=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <7ac4c69c34240c6de820492c0a28a0bd1494265a
  10. Affected versionversion=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <bf8aaf0ae01c27ae3c06aa8610caf91e50393396
  11. Affected versionversion=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <db9b31aa9bc56ff0d15b78f7e827d61c4a096e40

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=27c79b3a9212cf4ba634c157e07d29548181a208 <f6fbb8535e990f844371086ab2c1221f71f993d3; version=2e5d24b3bf091802c5456dc8f8f6a6be4493c8ca; version=5.10.20 <5.10.219; version=5.11.3 <5.12; version=5.12; version=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <1337ec94bc5a9eed250e33f5f5c89a28a6bfabdb; version=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <1d5dce5e92a70274de67a59e1e674c3267f94cd7; version=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <3cb92b0ad73d3f1734e812054e698d655e9581b0; version=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <7ac4c69c34240c6de820492c0a28a0bd1494265a; version=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <bf8aaf0ae01c27ae3c06aa8610caf91e50393396; version=51d138c2610a236c1ed0059d034ee4c74f452b86 <db9b31aa9bc56ff0d15b78f7e827d61c4a096e40

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo