CVE-2024-38561

Local kernel memory corruption via KUnit kthread race

Published Jun 19, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in the KUnit try-catch runner in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via a timed-out test thread. kunit_try_catch_run starts the kthread without retaining its task_struct reference, so an exit after the completion deadline can free the object before kthread_stop uses it. Public sources identify no attacker-controlled path to the race; KUnit must be configured, and exploitation requires local access and precise scheduling.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the KUnit try-catch runner in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via a timed-out test thread. kunit_try_catch_run starts the kthread without retaining its task_struct reference, so an exit after the completion deadline can free the object before kthread_stop uses it. Public sources identify no attacker-controlled path to the race; KUnit must be configured, and exploitation requires local access and precise scheduling.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38561
Published
Jun 19, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 19, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=5.18
  2. Affected versionversion=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <1ec7ccb4cd4b6f72c2998b07880fa7aaf8dfe1d4
  3. Affected versionversion=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <1f2ebd3758e1cef6a1f998a1f7ea73310dcb1699
  4. Affected versionversion=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <8f5c841a559ccb700c8d27a3ca645b7a5f59b4f5
  5. Affected versionversion=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <b0b755cb5a5e0d7168c3ab1b3814b0d3cad9f017
  6. Affected versionversion=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <f8aa1b98ce40184521ed95ec26cc115a255183b2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.18; version=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <1ec7ccb4cd4b6f72c2998b07880fa7aaf8dfe1d4; version=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <1f2ebd3758e1cef6a1f998a1f7ea73310dcb1699; version=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <8f5c841a559ccb700c8d27a3ca645b7a5f59b4f5; version=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <b0b755cb5a5e0d7168c3ab1b3814b0d3cad9f017; version=adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2 <f8aa1b98ce40184521ed95ec26cc115a255183b2

Published CVSS scores

7.0NIST NVDCVSS: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 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

CWE-416Use After Free

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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