Kernel memory leak via unreleased temperature response buffers
Published Jun 19, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026
Memory leak in the Linux kernel 6.8 mt7996 Wi-Fi driver allows attackers to consume kernel memory by reading chip temperature. The mt7996_mcu_get_temperature function extracts the temperature from an MCU response buffer but returns without freeing the associated socket buffer. The condition requires an mt7996 device and temperature reads; each read leaks memory, producing cumulative memory pressure.
Summary
What happened
Memory leak in the Linux kernel 6.8 mt7996 Wi-Fi driver allows attackers to consume kernel memory by reading chip temperature. The mt7996_mcu_get_temperature function extracts the temperature from an MCU response buffer but returns without freeing the associated socket buffer. The condition requires an mt7996 device and temperature reads; each read leaks memory, producing cumulative memory pressure.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-38563
- Published
- Jun 19, 2024
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 19, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=6.8
- Affected versionversion=6879b2e94172ed80394dd49d410814ad427d1ca0 <474b9412f33be87076b40a49756662594598a85e
- Affected versionversion=6879b2e94172ed80394dd49d410814ad427d1ca0 <84e81f9b4818b8efe89beb12a246d5d510631939
- Affected versionversion=6879b2e94172ed80394dd49d410814ad427d1ca0 <ef46dbb93fc9279fb7de883aac22abffe214e6b5
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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