# CVE-2024-38555: net/mlx5: Discard command completions in internal error

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel mlx5 driver allows attackers to cause a denial of service or potentially execute code via crafted firmware completions.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Jun 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2024-38555, DEBIAN-CVE-2024-38555, GHSA-3q8r-mh7f-v4r2, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-38555

## What is CVE-2024-38555?

CVE-2024-38555 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 19 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:

net/mlx5: Discard command completions in internal error

Fix use after free when FW completion arrives while device is in
internal error state. Avoid calling completion handler in this case,
since the device will flush the command interface and trigger all
completions manually.

Kernel log:
------------[ cut here ]------------
refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.
...
RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xd8/0xe0
...
Call Trace:
<IRQ>
? __warn+0x79/0x120
? refcount_warn_saturate+0xd8/0xe0
? report_bug+0x17c/0x190
? handle_bug+0x3c/0x60
? exc_invalid_op+0x14/0x70
? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x16/0x20
? refcount_warn_saturate+0xd8/0xe0
cmd_ent_put+0x13b/0x160 [mlx5_core]
mlx5_cmd_comp_handler+0x5f9/0x670 [mlx5_core]
cmd_comp_notifier+0x1f/0x30 [mlx5_core]
notifier_call_chain+0x35/0xb0
atomic_notifier_call_chain+0x16/0x20
mlx5_eq_async_int+0xf6/0x290 [mlx5_core]
notifier_call_chain+0x35/0xb0
atomic_notifier_call_chain+0x16/0x20
irq_int_handler+0x19/0x30 [mlx5_core]
__handle_irq_event_percpu+0x4b/0x160
handle_irq_event+0x2e/0x80
handle_edge_irq+0x98/0x230
__common_interrupt+0x3b/0xa0
common_interrupt+0x7b/0xa0
</IRQ>
<TASK>
asm_common_interrupt+0x22/0x40

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-38555?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-38555?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2024-38555 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-38555 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-38555 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-38555 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 19 Jun 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-38555 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38555/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38555/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-38555
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38555
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38555

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38555/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.