Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-38565 is a Linux kernel flaw in the ar5523 USB Wi-Fi driver. The driver did not properly verify USB endpoint types before use, which could trigger unsafe behavior. Business urgency is moderate: exposure appears limited to systems with this driver or related hardware, and public sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted kernel maintenance item, not an emergency internet-wide issue. Patch through normal Linux update channels, with higher priority for endpoints, appliances, or embedded systems using USB Wi-Fi hardware or vendor kernels that include ar5523.
Technical view
The kernel fix adds validation that all expected ar5523 USB endpoints exist and have the correct transfer types before the driver submits URBs. The issue was reported by Syzkaller as a bogus URB transfer warning in ar5523_probe/ar5523_cmd paths. The patch note says it was not tested on real hardware.
Likely exposure
Likely exposed systems are Linux deployments running affected kernels where the ar5523 wireless USB driver is available or used. General servers without this driver or hardware are less likely to be affected. Confirm through kernel package provenance, module availability, and vendor advisories.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. Evidence comes from Syzkaller testing and kernel stable patches, not from a public exploitation report. Do not assume exploitation without additional vendor or threat intelligence confirmation.
Researcher notes
The affected-version data in the bundle is coarse and commit-oriented. The CVSS vector lists network attack with low complexity and low privileges, but the technical description centers on USB driver endpoint validation. Validate exposure against actual kernel configuration, driver presence, and downstream backports.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux kernel or distribution updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize systems that use USB Wi-Fi or include the ar5523 driver.
- Review Debian LTS and relevant vendor advisories for package-specific guidance.
- For appliances, request vendor confirmation that their kernel includes the fix.
- Avoid direct wrangling of upstream commits on vendor kernels without support guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory kernel versions and packages across Linux assets.
- Check whether the ar5523 module is present, loadable, or in use.
- Map deployed kernels to vendor advisories or referenced stable commits.
- Review kernel logs for ar5523 or USB endpoint warnings.
- Confirm patched status through distro security metadata, not only version strings.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2024-38565 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N2.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/79ddf5f2020fd593d50f1363bb5131283d74f78fCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/68a5a00c5d38978a3f8460c6f182f7beec8688ffCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee25389df80138907bc9dcdf4a2be2067cde9a81CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b4c24de37a6bb383394a6fef2b85a6db41d426f5CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/34f7ebff1b9699e0b89fa58b693bc098c2f5ec72CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b33a81e4ecfb022b028cae37d1c1ce28ac1b359dCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/beeed260b92af158592f5e8d2dab65dae45c6f70CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7bbf76c9bb2c58375e183074e44f9712483f0603CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e120b6388d7d88635d67dcae6483f39c37111850CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00020.htmlCVE reference, CVE
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.