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CVE Record

CVE-2024-38597: eth: sungem: remove .ndo_poll_controller to avoid deadlocks

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eth: sungem: remove .ndo_poll_controller to avoid deadlocks Erhard reports netpoll warnings from sungem: netpoll_send_skb_on_dev(): eth0 enabled interrupts in poll (gem_start_xmit+0x0/0x398) WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 1 at net/core/netpoll.c:370 netpoll_send_skb+0x1fc/0x20c gem_poll_controller() disables interrupts, which may sleep. We can't sleep in netpoll, it has interrupts disabled completely. Strangely, gem_poll_controller() doesn't even poll the completions, and instead acts as if an interrupt has fired so it just schedules NAPI and exits. None of this has been necessary for years, since netpoll invokes NAPI directly.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can cause a deadlock in the sungem Ethernet driver when netpoll is used. The described impact is reliability, not data theft or code execution. Public sources do not provide a CVSS score, CWE, or evidence of active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted kernel reliability issue. It should enter normal kernel patch governance, with faster handling for systems depending on sungem networking or netpoll. No source indicates emergency exploitation response is required.

Technical view

The sungem driver registered .ndo_poll_controller. Its poll controller disabled interrupts in a path where netpoll already runs with interrupts disabled and cannot sleep. The kernel fix removes that poll controller because netpoll invokes NAPI directly.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the sungem Ethernet driver, especially with netpoll-related paths. The source lists Linux as affected and provides multiple stable kernel commit references, but does not map exposure to distributions or packaged kernel versions.

Exploitation context

The source describes kernel warnings and deadlock avoidance. It does not state remote exploitability, privilege requirements, proof-of-concept availability, or active exploitation. CISA KEV status in the bundle is false.

Researcher notes

Key evidence is the kernel commit rationale: gem_poll_controller disables interrupts and may sleep, which conflicts with netpoll constraints. The record lacks CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, and distribution-level fixed package details.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check your Linux distribution advisory for backported CVE-2024-38597 fixes.
  • Prioritize hosts using the sungem Ethernet driver or netpoll features.
  • If patch timing is unclear, follow kernel or distribution vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts for kernels and sungem driver usage.
  • Confirm whether netpoll-related features are enabled on affected hosts.
  • Compare installed kernel packages against vendor fixed versions.
  • Review kernel logs for sungem or netpoll warning messages.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

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-2024-38597 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
8Source 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
LinuxLinuxfe09bb619096a0aa139210748ddc668c2dbe2308, fe09bb619096a0aa139210748ddc668c2dbe2308, fe09bb619096a0aa139210748ddc668c2dbe2308, fe09bb619096a0aa139210748ddc668c2dbe2308, fe09bb619096a0aa139210748ddc668c2dbe2308, fe09bb619096a0aa139210748ddc668c2dbe2308, fe09bb619096a0aa139210748ddc668c2dbe2308unaffected
LinuxLinux3.1, 0, 5.10.219, 5.15.161, 6.1.93, 6.6.33, 6.8.12, 6.9.3, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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