CVE-2024-39480

Kernel memory corruption via kdb tab completion

Published Jul 5, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Stack-based buffer overflow in Linux kdb allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by tab-completing a nearly full command buffer. In kdb_read(), strncpy() uses the source-buffer length while inserting a completion into cmd_cur, so a mid-line cursor can drive writes past the command buffer. Reaching the flaw requires an enabled kdb console and entry through a keyboard, serial console, or privileged SysRq trigger; exploitation can expose or alter kernel memory or interrupt the system.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in Linux kdb allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by tab-completing a nearly full command buffer. In kdb_read(), strncpy() uses the source-buffer length while inserting a completion into cmd_cur, so a mid-line cursor can drive writes past the command buffer. Reaching the flaw requires an enabled kdb console and entry through a keyboard, serial console, or privileged SysRq trigger; exploitation can expose or alter kernel memory or interrupt the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-39480
Published
Jul 5, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-120, CWE-121
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 5, 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=2.6.35
  2. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <107e825cc448b7834b31e8b1b3cf0f57426d46d5
  3. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <33d9c814652b971461d1e30bead6792851c209e7
  4. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <cfdc2fa4db57503bc6d3817240547c8ddc55fa96
  5. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <ddd2972d8e2dee3b33e8121669d55def59f0be8a
  6. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <e9730744bf3af04cda23799029342aa3cddbc454
  7. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <f636a40834d22e5e3fc748f060211879c056cd33
  8. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <f694da720dcf795dc3eb97bf76d220213f76aaa7
  9. Affected versionversion=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <fb824a99e148ff272a53d71d84122728b5f00992

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.35; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <107e825cc448b7834b31e8b1b3cf0f57426d46d5; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <33d9c814652b971461d1e30bead6792851c209e7; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <cfdc2fa4db57503bc6d3817240547c8ddc55fa96; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <ddd2972d8e2dee3b33e8121669d55def59f0be8a; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <e9730744bf3af04cda23799029342aa3cddbc454; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <f636a40834d22e5e3fc748f060211879c056cd33; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <f694da720dcf795dc3eb97bf76d220213f76aaa7; version=5d5314d6795f3c1c0f415348ff8c51f7de042b77 <fb824a99e148ff272a53d71d84122728b5f00992
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f4 <107e825cc448; version=1da177e4c3f4 <33d9c814652b; version=1da177e4c3f4 <cfdc2fa4db57; version=1da177e4c3f4 <ddd2972d8e2d; version=1da177e4c3f4 <e9730744bf3a; version=1da177e4c3f4 <f636a40834d2; version=1da177e4c3f4 <f694da720dcf; version=1da177e4c3f4 <fb824a99e148

Published CVSS scores

8.4Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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.

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
CWE-121Stack-based Buffer Overflow

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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