What is CVE-2024-38617?

CVE-2024-38617 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, classified as a Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference flaw (CWE-763), affecting Linux kernel versions from 6.2 onward and patched in 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3 and others. CVE-2024-38617 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-38617?

CVE-2024-38617 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:N/I:N/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-38617?

Yes, CVE-2024-38617 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.2 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2024-38617 actively exploited?

CVE-2024-38617 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference (CWE-763)?

The product attempts to return a memory resource to the system but calls the wrong release function. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/763.html

CVE-2024-38617

Medium

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.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2024-06-19

Last modified 2025-10-03

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

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

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Vector string

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

Weakness type

CWE-763

CVE-2024-38617 is a Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference vulnerability

What is Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference?

The product attempts to return a memory resource to the system but calls the wrong release function. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.2 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3, 6.10 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 6.2

Fixed in

✓ 6.6.33 6.6.x ✓ 6.8.12 6.8.x ✓ 6.9.3 6.9.x ✓ 6.10

References

4 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03758d5a0932016b6d5f5bfbca580177e6bc937a

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/42d21c9727028fe7ee392223ba127484b1b8677e

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7880dbf4eafe22a6a41a42e774f1122c814ed02d

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/998b18072ceb0613629c256b409f4d299829c7ec

Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2024-38617

Severity Medium

CVSS score 5.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2024-06-19

Modified 2025-10-03

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-38617?

CVE-2024-38617 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference flaw (CWE-763) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.2 onward and has been patched in 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3 and others. CVE-2024-38617 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-38617?

CVE-2024-38617 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:N/I:N/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2024-38617?

Yes. CVE-2024-38617 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.2 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2024-38617 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2024-38617 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.