CVE-2024-38388 ALSA: hda/cs_dsp_ctl: Use private_free for control cleanup
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel ALSA HDA driver allows local attackers to cause a denial of service via stale pointer dereference.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2024-38388?
CVE-2024-38388 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 21 Jun 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ALSA: hda/cs_dsp_ctl: Use private_free for control cleanup
Use the control private_free callback to free the associated data block. This ensures that the memory won't leak, whatever way the control gets destroyed.
The original implementation didn't actually remove the ALSA controls in hda_cs_dsp_control_remove(). It only freed the internal tracking structure. This meant it was possible to remove/unload the amp driver while leaving its ALSA controls still present in the soundcard. Obviously attempting to access them could cause segfaults or at least dereferencing stale pointers.
Weakness: CWE-401
Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-38388?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2024-38388?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2024-38388 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-38388 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2024-38388, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-38388, GHSA-gqvj-vmm6-rx6c, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-38388.