CVE-2024-38605Network attack vector

Post-unload driver execution via missing module reference

Published Jun 19, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

A race condition in the Linux kernel ALSA core allows attackers to trigger post-removal driver execution through device operations. When CONFIG_SND=y and a driver is modular, snd_card creation discards the non-NULL module pointer, leaving card->module NULL and suppressing reference acquisition and release. Reachability requires that mixed built-in and modular configuration plus device activity concurrent with module removal; the record establishes no reliable crash or privilege outcome.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.75%
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 race condition in the Linux kernel ALSA core allows attackers to trigger post-removal driver execution through device operations. When CONFIG_SND=y and a driver is modular, snd_card creation discards the non-NULL module pointer, leaving card->module NULL and suppressing reference acquisition and release. Reachability requires that mixed built-in and modular configuration plus device activity concurrent with module removal; the record establishes no reliable crash or privilege outcome.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38605
Published
Jun 19, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476
Attack vector
network
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=5.9
  2. Affected versionversion=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <39381fe7394e5eafac76e7e9367e7351138a29c1
  3. Affected versionversion=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <6b8374ee2cabcf034faa34e69a855dc496a9ec12
  4. Affected versionversion=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <c935e72139e6d523defd60fe875c01eb1f9ea5c5
  5. Affected versionversion=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <d7ff29a429b56f04783152ad7bbd7233b740e434
  6. Affected versionversion=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <e007476725730c1a68387b54b7629486d8a8301e
  7. Affected versionversion=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <e644036a3e2b2c9b3eee3c61b5d31c2ca8b5ba92
  8. Affected versionversion=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <e7e0ca200772bdb2fdc6d43d32d341e87a36f811

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.9; version=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <39381fe7394e5eafac76e7e9367e7351138a29c1; version=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <6b8374ee2cabcf034faa34e69a855dc496a9ec12; version=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <c935e72139e6d523defd60fe875c01eb1f9ea5c5; version=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <d7ff29a429b56f04783152ad7bbd7233b740e434; version=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <e007476725730c1a68387b54b7629486d8a8301e; version=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <e644036a3e2b2c9b3eee3c61b5d31c2ca8b5ba92; version=81033c6b584b44514cbb16fffc26ca29a0fa6270 <e7e0ca200772bdb2fdc6d43d32d341e87a36f811
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.9; version=81033c6b584b <39381fe7394e; version=81033c6b584b <6b8374ee2cab; version=81033c6b584b <c935e72139e6; version=81033c6b584b <d7ff29a429b5; version=81033c6b584b <e00747672573; version=81033c6b584b <e644036a3e2b; version=81033c6b584b <e7e0ca200772

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference

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