What is CVE-2009-3238?

CVE-2009-3238 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10. CVE-2009-3238 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2009-3238?

CVE-2009-3238 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2009-3238?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2009-3238. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2009-3238 actively exploited?

CVE-2009-3238 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

CVE-2009-3238

Medium

The get_random_int function in drivers/char/random.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.30 produces insufficiently random numbers, which allows attackers to predict the return value, and possibly defeat protection mechanisms based on randomization, via vectors that leverage the function's tendency to "return the same value over and over again for long stretches of time."

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2009-09-18

Last modified 2026-04-23

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

None

Availability

None

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Weakness type

CWE-338

CVE-2009-3238 is classified as CWE-338

See CWE-338 on MITRE CWE for full details on this weakness type.

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2009-3238 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-11/msg00005.html

Mailing List
Lists
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-02/msg00005.html

Mailing List
Secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/37105

Broken Link
Secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/37351

Broken Link
Kernel.org
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.30

Broken Link Exploit Vendor Advisory
Red Hat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1438.html

Broken Link
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-852-1

Third Party Advisory
Red Hat
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=499785

Issue Tracking Permissions Required
Red Hat
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=519692

Issue Tracking Permissions Required
Oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11168

Broken Link
Support
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03836en_us

Third Party Advisory
Kernel patch commit
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8a0a9bd4db63bc45e3017bedeafbd88d0eb84d02
Patch
Kernel patch commit
http://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/21766/
Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2009-3238

Severity Medium

CVSS score 5.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2009-09-18

Modified 2026-04-23

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3238?

CVE-2009-3238 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 . CVE-2009-3238 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2009-3238?

CVE-2009-3238 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2009-3238?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2009-3238. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2009-3238 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2009-3238 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.