Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-38628 is a Linux kernel race condition in USB gadget audio handling. A local user could trigger a use-after-free during gadget unbind, potentially causing a system hang or crash. The main business impact is availability, not data theft or privilege escalation based on the provided CVSS data.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate availability risk. It should be handled in normal kernel patch cycles, faster for systems where local users or embedded workflows can exercise USB gadget audio. No source provided evidence of active exploitation or data compromise.
Technical view
The flaw is in the Linux kernel USB gadget u_audio code. During gadget unbind, controls could be used after being freed. The fix changes handling to retain control IDs instead of control pointers, relying on locking around IDs. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5: local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using USB gadget audio functionality. The provided affected data names Linux kernel versions including 5.15, 6.1.93, 6.6.33, 6.9.4, and 6.10. Confirm impact through your distribution kernel advisory because downstream kernels may backport fixes.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV is false. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires local access with low privileges and no user interaction. Evidence supports a denial-of-service risk through kernel hang or crash, not confidentiality or integrity compromise.
Researcher notes
This is CWE-362, a race condition, resolved by avoiding stale control pointers during gadget unbind. The strongest validation path is kernel source or vendor backport confirmation against the stable commit references. The source bundle does not provide exploit details or configuration-specific trigger conditions.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a kernel or distribution package that includes the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize systems using Linux USB gadget audio or exposing gadget functionality to local users.
- Check vendor or distribution guidance if immediate kernel update is not possible.
- Reduce untrusted local access on affected systems until patched.
- Include this CVE in kernel maintenance tracking for embedded or appliance builds.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, endpoints, appliances, and embedded builds.
- Confirm whether USB gadget audio or u_audio functionality is enabled or used.
- Check distribution changelogs for CVE-2024-38628 or the referenced stable commits.
- Verify patched kernels are running after reboot, not only installed.
- Review incident data for unexplained local kernel hangs on relevant devices.
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.
CWE-362: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-38628 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
- 5.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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/89e66809684485590ea0b32c3178e42cba36ac09CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/453d3fa9266e53f85377b911c19b9a4563fa88c0CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bea73b58ab67fe581037ad9cdb93c2557590c068CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b739388aa3f8dfb63a9fca777e6dfa6912d0464CVE reference, Linux
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.
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.