medium CVSS 5.5 EPSS <0.1%

CVE-2024-38563·Kernel vulnerability

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mt76: mt7996: fix potential memory leakage when reading chip temperature Without this commit, reading chip temperature will cause memory leakage.

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 3% 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 patch a memory leak in the MT7996 WiFi driver's temperature reading functionality. Systems running kernel versions 6.9 through 6.9.2 should prioritize this update to prevent gradual memory exhaustion that could impact system stability over time. Apply the patch through your distribution's standard kernel update mechanism.

sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel

Defensia detects this vulnerability

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check your kernel version: uname -r — verify it is 6.9.3 or later
  2. Confirm MT7996 driver presence: lspci -k | grep -i mt7996 or grep mt7996 /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/modules.builtin
  3. Monitor memory usage during WiFi temperature queries: watch -n 1 'free -h' while running vendor temperature monitoring tools
  4. Verify kernel patch application: grep -i 'memory leakage' /proc/sys/kernel/version or check dmesg for any mt7996 related messages post-update

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-38563?

CVE-2024-38563 is a memory leak vulnerability in the MediaTek MT7996 WiFi driver within the Linux kernel that occurs when the chip temperature is read, leading to potential memory exhaustion if temperature queries are frequent.

Is CVE-2024-38563 being actively exploited?

No, this vulnerability is not currently being actively exploited in the wild according to CISA records, and no public exploits are available.

What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-38563?

Linux kernel versions 6.9 through 6.9.2 are vulnerable. Kernel 6.9.3 and later contain the fix.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-38563?

Run uname -r to check your kernel version (vulnerable if 6.9–6.9.2), then verify MT7996 driver presence with lspci -k | grep -i mt7996 or lsmod | grep mt7996.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-38563?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-38563 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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