LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2024-38577: rcu-tasks: Fix show_rcu_tasks_trace_gp_kthread buffer overflow

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rcu-tasks: Fix show_rcu_tasks_trace_gp_kthread buffer overflow There is a possibility of buffer overflow in show_rcu_tasks_trace_gp_kthread() if counters, passed to sprintf() are huge. Counter numbers, needed for this are unrealistically high, but buffer overflow is still possible. Use snprintf() with buffer size instead of sprintf(). Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

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

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-38577 is a Linux kernel buffer overflow in an RCU diagnostic/status reporting path. The source says exploitation would require unrealistically huge counter values, but the unsafe formatting call was still corrected. Treat this as a kernel maintenance risk, not an emergency, unless exposed systems are running affected kernel builds.

Executive priority

Schedule normal-priority kernel patching and tracking. There is no source evidence of exploitation or high business urgency, but kernel memory-safety issues should not remain open indefinitely on production infrastructure.

Technical view

The vulnerable function is show_rcu_tasks_trace_gp_kthread(). It used sprintf() to write counter values into a buffer, creating a possible overflow if counters became extremely large. The fix replaces sprintf() with snprintf() using the buffer size. The issue was found by Linux Verification Center using SVACE.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or downstream packages that include the vulnerable RCU tasks trace code. The provided data does not identify affected distributions beyond a Debian LTS advisory reference, so confirm exposure through kernel package provenance.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show active exploitation, public exploit use, KEV listing, CVSS, or a practical trigger path. The description explicitly says required counter values are unrealistically high, which lowers apparent urgency but does not eliminate kernel memory-safety concern.

Researcher notes

Useful research questions are practical reachability, required privilege or interface exposure, and whether downstream kernels backported the snprintf() fix. The supplied sources do not provide CVSS, CWE mapping, exploitability analysis, or distro-wide affected ranges.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to a kernel containing the linked stable fixes.
  • Apply relevant distribution kernel updates, including Debian LTS guidance where applicable.
  • Prioritize internet-facing or multi-tenant Linux hosts after routine kernel maintenance windows.
  • Check vendor advisories for downstream backports before assuming version numbers are safe.
  • Avoid direct wrangler or deploy assumptions; this is kernel patch management only.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, containers hosts, and appliances.
  • Map each kernel package to vendor advisories or linked stable commits.
  • Confirm patched source uses snprintf() in show_rcu_tasks_trace_gp_kthread().
  • Review Debian LTS advisory applicability for Debian-based systems.
  • Document any systems deferred from kernel updates and compensating controls.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
10

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-2024-38577 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
9Source 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
LinuxLinuxedf3775f0ad66879796f594983163f672c4bf1a2, edf3775f0ad66879796f594983163f672c4bf1a2, edf3775f0ad66879796f594983163f672c4bf1a2, edf3775f0ad66879796f594983163f672c4bf1a2, edf3775f0ad66879796f594983163f672c4bf1a2, edf3775f0ad66879796f594983163f672c4bf1a2, edf3775f0ad66879796f594983163f672c4bf1a2unaffected
LinuxLinux5.8, 0, 5.10.226, 5.15.167, 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.