CVE-2024-38617

KUnit test interruption via mismatched memory release

Published Jun 19, 2024 · Updated May 11, 2026

Invalid pointer release in Linux allows local users to interrupt KUnit test execution through the fortify test suite. The kvalloc-family fortify tests pass allocated pointers to vfree instead of the matching kvfree release path in lib/fortify_kunit.c. The condition is reached only when the affected kernel-space test suite executes, where the invalid release can interrupt the test kernel.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Invalid pointer release in Linux allows local users to interrupt KUnit test execution through the fortify test suite. The kvalloc-family fortify tests pass allocated pointers to vfree instead of the matching kvfree release path in lib/fortify_kunit.c. The condition is reached only when the affected kernel-space test suite executes, where the invalid release can interrupt the test kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38617
Published
Jun 19, 2024
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-763, T1499
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

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=6.2
  2. Affected versionversion=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <03758d5a0932016b6d5f5bfbca580177e6bc937a
  3. Affected versionversion=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <42d21c9727028fe7ee392223ba127484b1b8677e
  4. Affected versionversion=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <7880dbf4eafe22a6a41a42e774f1122c814ed02d
  5. Affected versionversion=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <998b18072ceb0613629c256b409f4d299829c7ec

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.2; version=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <03758d5a0932016b6d5f5bfbca580177e6bc937a; version=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <42d21c9727028fe7ee392223ba127484b1b8677e; version=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <7880dbf4eafe22a6a41a42e774f1122c814ed02d; version=9124a26401483bf2b13a99cb4317dce3f677060f <998b18072ceb0613629c256b409f4d299829c7ec

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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 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-763Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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