CVE-2024-38568·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drivers/perf: hisi: hns3: Fix out-of-bound access when valid event group The perf tool allows users to create event groups through following cmd [1], but the driver does not check whether the array index is out of bounds when writing data to the event_group array. If the number of events in an event_group is greater than HNS3_PMU_MAX_HW_EVENTS, the memory write overflow of event_group array occurs. Add array index check to fix the possible array out of bounds violation, and return directly when write new events are written to array bounds. There are 9 different events in an event_group. [1] perf stat -e '{pmu/event1/, ... ,pmu/event9/}
- Severity
- high
- 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 11% 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.
Read the two together. CVE-2024-38568 scores 7.8 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at <0.1%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
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 an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in the HNS3 performance monitoring unit (PMU) driver. This flaw allows local users with sufficient privileges to trigger buffer overflows when creating performance event groups exceeding the hardware limit. Immediate patching is recommended for systems running affected kernel versions 6.9 through 6.9.2.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your current kernel version with: uname -r
- Step 2: Verify if HNS3 PMU driver is loaded on your system: lsmod | grep hns3
- Step 3: Search system logs for perf-related errors or memory violations: journalctl -u kernel | grep -i 'perf\|hns3\|out.of.bounds'
- Step 4: After patching, confirm the new kernel version is running: uname -r (should show 6.9.3 or later)
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-38568?
CVE-2024-38568 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel's HNS3 performance monitoring driver that fails to validate the number of events in a perf event group, leading to out-of-bounds memory writes when more than the maximum allowed events are configured.
Is CVE-2024-38568 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are currently available.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-38568?
Linux kernel versions 6.9, 6.9.1, and 6.9.2 are affected. The vulnerability has been fixed in kernel version 6.9.3 and later.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-38568?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version. If it shows 6.9.x where x is 0-2, your system is vulnerable. Additionally, confirm the HNS3 driver is present with 'lsmod | grep hns3'.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-38568?
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-2024-38568 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3669baf308308385a2ab391324abdde5682af5aa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/81bdd60a3d1d3b05e6cc6674845afb1694dd3a0e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aa2d3d678895c8eedd003f1473f87d3f06fe6ec7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5120d322763c15c978bc47beb3b6dff45624304
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be1fa711e59c874d049f592aef1d4685bdd22bdf
Track CVEs across your fleet automatically
Defensia scans your Linux servers and tells you exactly which ones are running vulnerable versions — including CVE-2024-38568. Free for 1 server.
Get started free