Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel Bluetooth driver flaw that can crash an affected system if a NULL allocation result is mishandled. The business impact is availability disruption, not data theft. The source rates it medium severity, with local low-privilege access required and no evidence of active exploitation in the provided materials.
Executive priority
Handle through normal kernel patch management, with higher urgency for user-accessible workstations, kiosks, or operational systems where local denial of service would matter. No source provided evidence of remote compromise or active exploitation.
Technical view
In btbcm_get_board_name(), devm_kstrdup() may return NULL on failure, but the return value was not checked. The fix adds NULL handling to prevent a kernel NULL pointer dereference. CVSS 3.1 is 5.5: local attack vector, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the Bluetooth btbcm driver code reachable. The supplied affected-version data is limited and should be checked against distribution kernel advisories and the referenced Linux stable commits.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates local access with low privileges is required. The provided bundle does not cite public exploitation, and KEV status is false. Treat this primarily as a local denial-of-service risk unless vendor advisories state otherwise.
Researcher notes
The evidence supports CWE-476 in Linux Bluetooth btbcm code, fixed by adding a NULL check after devm_kstrdup(). Version applicability should be validated through distro backport metadata because kernel package versions may not map cleanly to upstream commits.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux vendor kernel updates that include the referenced stable fixes.
- Prioritize systems where Bluetooth is enabled and availability matters.
- If updates are delayed, review vendor guidance for temporary mitigations.
- Track distribution advisories for affected and fixed kernel package mapping.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across endpoints and servers.
- Identify systems with Bluetooth and Broadcom btbcm driver exposure.
- Confirm installed kernels include the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
- Review kernel crash reports for relevant Bluetooth NULL dereference events.
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-476: 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-2024-57988 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/df2f2d9199e61819cca5da0121dfa4d4cb57000fCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/74af8b9d0e79deefd2d43e14b84575839a849169CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b88655bc6593c6a7fdc1248b212d17e581c4334eCVE 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.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.