LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2024-38571: thermal/drivers/tsens: Fix null pointer dereference

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: thermal/drivers/tsens: Fix null pointer dereference compute_intercept_slope() is called from calibrate_8960() (in tsens-8960.c) as compute_intercept_slope(priv, p1, NULL, ONE_PT_CALIB) which lead to null pointer dereference (if DEBUG or DYNAMIC_DEBUG set). Fix this bug by adding null pointer check. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-38571 is a Linux kernel bug in the tsens thermal driver. A calibration path can dereference a null pointer when DEBUG or DYNAMIC_DEBUG is enabled. The public record does not provide CVSS, confirmed impact beyond this crash condition, or active exploitation evidence.

Executive priority

Handle through normal kernel patch management unless your environment uses affected debug-enabled kernels on operationally important Linux devices. Business urgency is uncertain because the public bundle lacks severity scoring, exploitation evidence, and confirmed real-world impact details.

Technical view

compute_intercept_slope() is called by calibrate_8960() with a NULL argument for one-point calibration. Under DEBUG or DYNAMIC_DEBUG, that can trigger a null pointer dereference. Kernel stable commits add a null check. The issue was found by Linux Verification Center using SVACE.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux kernels containing the vulnerable tsens driver code, especially builds with DEBUG or DYNAMIC_DEBUG enabled. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions and stable fix commits, but does not map exposure to specific distributions, devices, or deployment profiles.

Exploitation context

The bundle states KEV is false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. It describes a null pointer dereference condition in kernel thermal driver calibration logic, not a remote attack path or privilege escalation. Treat exploitability as unproven from the supplied sources.

Researcher notes

The key condition is the calibrate_8960() call pattern passing NULL into compute_intercept_slope() during ONE_PT_CALIB. Analysis should focus on whether reachable deployed builds enable the debug path and include the tsens driver. The supplied evidence supports a null dereference fix, not broader impact claims.

Mitigation direction

  • Update affected Linux kernels to versions containing the referenced stable commits.
  • Check distribution or device vendor advisories for packaged fixed kernel versions.
  • Prioritize debug-enabled or dynamic-debug-enabled kernel builds for review.
  • Avoid assuming a workaround unless the vendor publishes one.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected systems.
  • Confirm whether kernels include the linked tsens null-check commits.
  • Identify systems built with DEBUG or DYNAMIC_DEBUG enabled.
  • Review vendor advisories for distro-specific affected and fixed package versions.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2024-38571 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
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
7Source 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
LinuxLinuxdfc1193d4dbd6c3cb68c944413146c940bde290a, dfc1193d4dbd6c3cb68c944413146c940bde290a, dfc1193d4dbd6c3cb68c944413146c940bde290a, dfc1193d4dbd6c3cb68c944413146c940bde290a, dfc1193d4dbd6c3cb68c944413146c940bde290a, dfc1193d4dbd6c3cb68c944413146c940bde290aunaffected
LinuxLinux5.13, 0, 5.15.161, 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.