medium CVSS 5.5 EPSS <0.1%

CVE-2024-38551·Kernel vulnerability

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ASoC: mediatek: Assign dummy when codec not specified for a DAI link MediaTek sound card drivers are checking whether a DAI link is present and used on a board to assign the correct parameters and this is done by checking the codec DAI names at probe time. If no real codec is present, assign the dummy codec to the DAI link to avoid NULL pointer during string comparison.

Severity
medium
Software
Kernel
Fixed in
6.9.3
Published

How likely is exploitation

FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at <0.1% — higher than 4% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.

Affected versions

From: 6.9

Until: 6.9.3

Fixed in: 6.9.3

How to fix this CVE

Update your Linux kernel to version 6.9.3 or later to resolve this MediaTek audio subsystem vulnerability. The fix ensures that dummy codecs are properly assigned when no real codec is specified for a DAI link, preventing kernel NULL pointer dereferences during audio initialization. Systems running kernels 6.9 through 6.9.2 with MediaTek audio hardware should prioritize this update.

sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel

Defensia detects this vulnerability

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check kernel version: uname -r — ensure you are running 6.9.3 or later
  2. Verify MediaTek audio codec presence: cat /proc/asound/cards | grep -i mediatek — identify if affected hardware is present
  3. Check dmesg for NULL pointer panics: dmesg | grep -i 'null pointer\|codec\|mediatek' — look for crashes during audio subsystem initialization
  4. Confirm patch applied: grep -r 'dummy.*codec' /boot/config-$(uname -r) or verify kernel build includes audio codec assignment logic

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-38551?

This vulnerability affects the MediaTek audio subsystem in the Linux kernel where improper handling of missing codec configurations leads to NULL pointer dereferences. When a DAI (Digital Audio Interface) link lacks a codec specification, the kernel crashes during audio initialization instead of gracefully assigning a dummy codec.

Is CVE-2024-38551 being actively exploited?

No, this vulnerability is not actively exploited or listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. It requires local system access and results in denial of service rather than privilege escalation.

What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-38551?

Linux kernel versions 6.9 through 6.9.2 are affected. Kernel 6.9.3 and later include the fix.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-38551?

Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version — if it shows 6.9.0, 6.9.1, or 6.9.2 and you have MediaTek audio hardware (check with 'cat /proc/asound/cards'), your system is vulnerable.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-38551?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-38551 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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