CVE-2024-38543: lib/test_hmm.c: handle src_pfns and dst_pfns allocation failure
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2024-38543 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.24% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 15.2% of scored vulnerabilities.
Not severe (CVSS 5.5, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 13 · Related 10Timeline
- 19-06-2024PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 11-05-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: lib/test_hmm.c: handle src_pfns and dst_pfns allocation failure The kcalloc() in dmirror_device_evict_chunk() will return null if the physical memory has run out. As a result, if src_pfns or dst_pfns is dereferenced, the null pointer dereference bug will happen. Moreover, the device is going away. If the kcalloc() fails, the pages mapping a chunk could not be evicted. So add a __GFP_NOFAIL flag in kcalloc(). Finally, as there is no need to have physically contiguous memory, Switch kcalloc() to kvcalloc() in order to avoid failing allocations.
CVSS metrics
3 scores · 3 sources · 1 version- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
0.24%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
15%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 0.24% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Ubuntu117 products
- linuxAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 6.8.0-40.40
- linux-allwinner-5.19All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-awsAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 6.8.0-1013.14
- linux-aws-5.0All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-aws-5.11All versions (No fix recorded)
Linux2 products
- linux≥ b2ef9f5a5cb37643ca5def3516c546457074b882, < 1a21fdeea502658e315bd939409b755974f4fb64 | ≥ b2ef9f5a5cb37643ca5def3516c546457074b882, < 65e528a69cb3ed4a286c45b4afba57461c8b5b33 | ≥ b2ef9f5a5cb37643ca5def3516c546457074b882, < ce47e8ead9a72834cc68431d53f8092ce69bebb7 | ≥ b2ef9f5a5cb37643ca5def3516c546457074b882, < 3b20d18f475bd17309db640dbe7d7c7ebb5bc2bc | ≥ b2ef9f5a5cb37643ca5def3516c546457074b882, < c2af060d1c18beaec56351cf9c9bcbbc5af341a3 | 5.8
- linux_kernel≥ 5.8, < 6.1.93 | ≥ 6.2, < 6.6.33 | ≥ 6.7, < 6.8.12 | ≥ 6.9, < 6.9.3
Debian1 product
- linux< 6.1.94-1 | < 6.8.12-1
3 vendors · 120 products
