Linux Kernel up to 6.6.32/6.8.11/6.9.2 fortify kvalloc use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.32/6.8.11/6.9.2. Affected by this issue is the function kvalloc of the component fortify. Performing a manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2024-38617. No exploit is available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.32/6.8.11/6.9.2. This affects the function kvalloc of the component fortify. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kunit/fortify: Fix mismatched kvalloc()/vfree() usage The kv*() family of tests were accidentally freeing with vfree() instead of kvfree(). Use kvfree() instead.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2024-38617 since 06/18/2024. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/05/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 247437 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2024-38617), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.33, 6.8.12 or 6.9.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7880dbf4eafe/42d21c972702/03758d5a0932/998b18072ceb is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (247437) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2024-1418). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• IBM InfoSphere Guardium
• Oracle Linux
• Oracle VM
• IBM Security Guardium
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Broadcom Brocade SANnav
• Dell NetWorker
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Dell Avamar
• IBM Storage Scale
• Juniper Junos Space
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Dell PowerProtect Data Domain

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.0
• 6.6.1
• 6.6.2
• 6.6.3
• 6.6.4
• 6.6.5
• 6.6.6
• 6.6.7
• 6.6.8
• 6.6.9
• 6.6.10
• 6.6.11
• 6.6.12
• 6.6.13
• 6.6.14
• 6.6.15
• 6.6.16
• 6.6.17
• 6.6.18
• 6.6.19
• 6.6.20
• 6.6.21
• 6.6.22
• 6.6.23
• 6.6.24
• 6.6.25
• 6.6.26
• 6.6.27
• 6.6.28
• 6.6.29
• 6.6.30
• 6.6.31
• 6.6.32
• 6.8.0
• 6.8.1
• 6.8.2
• 6.8.3
• 6.8.4
• 6.8.5
• 6.8.6
• 6.8.7
• 6.8.8
• 6.8.9
• 6.8.10
• 6.8.11
• 6.9.0
• 6.9.1
• 6.9.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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