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CVE Record

CVE-2024-38539: RDMA/cma: Fix kmemleak in rdma_core observed during blktests nvme/rdma use siw

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RDMA/cma: Fix kmemleak in rdma_core observed during blktests nvme/rdma use siw When running blktests nvme/rdma, the following kmemleak issue will appear. kmemleak: Kernel memory leak detector initialized (mempool available:36041) kmemleak: Automatic memory scanning thread started kmemleak: 2 new suspected memory leaks (see /sys/kernel/debug/kmemleak) kmemleak: 8 new suspected memory leaks (see /sys/kernel/debug/kmemleak) kmemleak: 17 new suspected memory leaks (see /sys/kernel/debug/kmemleak) kmemleak: 4 new suspected memory leaks (see /sys/kernel/debug/kmemleak) unreferenced object 0xffff88855da53400 (size 192): comm "rdma", pid 10630, jiffies 4296575922 hex dump (first 32 bytes): 37 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 c0 ff ff ff 1f 00 00 00 7............... 10 34 a5 5d 85 88 ff ff 10 34 a5 5d 85 88 ff ff .4.].....4.].... backtrace (crc 47f66721): [<ffffffff911251bd>] kmalloc_trace+0x30d/0x3b0 [<ffffffffc2640ff7>] alloc_gid_entry+0x47/0x380 [ib_core] [<ffffffffc2642206>] add_modify_gid+0x166/0x930 [ib_core] [<ffffffffc2643468>] ib_cache_update.part.0+0x6d8/0x910 [ib_core] [<ffffffffc2644e1a>] ib_cache_setup_one+0x24a/0x350 [ib_core] [<ffffffffc263949e>] ib_register_device+0x9e/0x3a0 [ib_core] [<ffffffffc2a3d389>] 0xffffffffc2a3d389 [<ffffffffc2688cd8>] nldev_newlink+0x2b8/0x520 [ib_core] [<ffffffffc2645fe3>] rdma_nl_rcv_msg+0x2c3/0x520 [ib_core] [<ffffffffc264648c>] rdma_nl_rcv_skb.constprop.0.isra.0+0x23c/0x3a0 [ib_core] [<ffffffff9270e7b5>] netlink_unicast+0x445/0x710 [<ffffffff9270f1f1>] netlink_sendmsg+0x761/0xc40 [<ffffffff9249db29>] __sys_sendto+0x3a9/0x420 [<ffffffff9249dc8c>] __x64_sys_sendto+0xdc/0x1b0 [<ffffffff92db0ad3>] do_syscall_64+0x93/0x180 [<ffffffff92e00126>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x71/0x79 The root cause: rdma_put_gid_attr is not called when sgid_attr is set to ERR_PTR(-ENODEV).

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue is a memory leak in RDMA core code, observed during NVMe/RDMA testing with Soft-iWARP. It may gradually consume kernel memory on affected systems using this RDMA path. The sources do not provide CVSS, impact beyond the leak, or evidence of active exploitation.

Executive priority

Low to moderate operational priority. Patch during the next normal kernel maintenance window, faster for storage or HPC hosts using RDMA where kernel memory leaks could affect service reliability.

Technical view

The root cause is that rdma_put_gid_attr is not called when sgid_attr is set to ERR_PTR(-ENODEV), leaving allocated GID entries unreferenced in ib_core. The provided record lists affected Linux kernel versions including 6.6, 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3, and 6.10, with stable kernel commits referenced as fixes.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with RDMA functionality, especially NVMe/RDMA or Soft-iWARP paths. Systems without RDMA use appear less likely to encounter the observed condition, but the sources do not define complete affected configurations.

Exploitation context

There is no KEV listing and no cited evidence of active exploitation. The public description shows the issue appearing during kernel testing, not a weaponized attack. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and kernel stable references. No CVSS, CWE, full distro matrix, exploitability analysis, or non-testing trigger conditions are provided. The available facts support a reliability-focused kernel memory leak assessment.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor kernel update containing the referenced stable Linux fix.
  • Prioritize hosts using RDMA, NVMe/RDMA, Soft-iWARP, or ib_core.
  • Check distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
  • Avoid relying on upstream version numbers alone for backported kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions on systems using RDMA features.
  • Check whether vendor packages include the CVE-2024-38539 fix.
  • Review kernel logs for kmemleak reports involving rdma_core or ib_core.
  • Confirm RDMA-dependent workloads remain healthy after patching.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2024-38539 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf8ef1be816bf9a0c406c696368c2264a9597a994, f8ef1be816bf9a0c406c696368c2264a9597a994, f8ef1be816bf9a0c406c696368c2264a9597a994, f8ef1be816bf9a0c406c696368c2264a9597a994unaffected
LinuxLinux6.6, 0, 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.