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CVE Record

CVE-2024-38561: kunit: Fix kthread reference

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: kunit: Fix kthread reference There is a race condition when a kthread finishes after the deadline and before the call to kthread_stop(), which may lead to use after free.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-38561 is a Linux kernel bug in KUnit, the kernel unit testing framework. A timing race can cause a thread reference to be used after it is freed. The sources do not provide CVSS, impact details, or evidence of active exploitation, so urgency depends on whether affected kernels with KUnit are present or used.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel maintenance item with uncertain severity. Do not defer indefinitely, but prioritize highest where affected kernels support KUnit workflows or where kernel update windows are already planned.

Technical view

The issue is a KUnit kthread lifecycle race: a kthread can finish after a deadline but before kthread_stop(), creating a use-after-free condition. Linux stable commits are listed as the fix references. The source bundle lists affected Linux versions including 5.18 and later stable lines up to 6.10, but provides no CPEs or CVSS vector.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is Linux systems running affected kernel versions where KUnit code is built or KUnit tests can be exercised. The bundle does not indicate public network exposure, default exploitability, or affected distributions.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources do not claim active exploitation, public exploit code, or weaponized use. Attacker prerequisites and real-world impact are not described in the provided evidence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Linux stable commit references. The core flaw is a race-induced use-after-free in KUnit kthread reference handling. No CVSS, CWE, exploit details, or distribution-specific package status were provided.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor kernel advisories for your distribution and platform.
  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems where KUnit is enabled, available, or used in CI/test environments.
  • If patch timing is unclear, ask the OS vendor to map the fix to your kernel build.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across production, CI, and test systems.
  • Confirm whether KUnit is enabled or loaded in relevant kernel builds.
  • Map installed kernels to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
  • Record KEV status as not listed, based on the supplied bundle.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

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

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2024-38561 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
6Source 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

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxadf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2, adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2, adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2, adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2, adf505457032c11b79b5a7c277c62ff5d61b17c2unaffected
LinuxLinux5.18, 0, 6.1.93, 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.