CVE-2024-38538: Linux kernel · net: bridge: xmit: make sure we have at least eth header len bytes
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 00:36 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Jun 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel by adding checks to ensure the skb length is at least the Ethernet header length before processing. Users should apply the official kernel updates that include this fix. Since this is not a cloud service, manual patching is required. Patch status is not explicitly stated in the input, so users should consult the vendor advisory or Linux kernel mailing lists for the fixed kernel versions and apply updates accordingly.
Description
CVE-2024-38538 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's network bridge transmit path. It involves improper handling of short packets smaller than the Ethernet header length (ETH_HLEN), which could lead to use of uninitialized memory values. The issue was identified by syzbot and fixed by adding a check to ensure sufficient packet length before processing. This vulnerability affects local attackers with low privileges and can cause denial of service due to kernel memory errors.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38538 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1abb371147905ba250b4cc0230c4be7e90bea4d5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/28126b83f86ab9cc7936029c2dff845d3dcedba2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3e01fc3c66e65d9afe98f1489047a1b2dd8741ca (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b5d669f569807c7ab07546e73c0741845a2547a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/82090f94c723dab724b1c32db406091d40448a17 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8bd67ebb50c0145fd2ca8681ab65eb7e8cde1afc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b2b7c43cd32080221bb233741bd6011983fe7c11 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c964429ef53f42098a6545a5dabeb1441c1e821d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f482fd4ce919836a49012b2d31b00fc36e2488f2 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.html (opens in a new tab)