CVE-2024-38602: Linux kernel · ax25: Fix reference count leak issues of ax25_dev
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 4.4.0-1137.143 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 12 Nov 2026, 19:04 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 4.4.0-1137.143, 4.15.0-1182.197~14.04.1, 4.4.0-260.294~14.04.1 +95
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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 12 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6949-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6952-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6955-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6949-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6952-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7069-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7069-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7100-1 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-ibmpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-ibm?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ax25: Fix reference count leak issues of ax25_dev The ax25_addr_ax25dev() and ax25_dev_device_down() exist a reference count leak issue of the object "ax25_dev". Memory leak issue in ax25_addr_ax25dev(): The reference count of the object "ax25_dev" can be increased multiple times in ax25_addr_ax25dev(). This will cause a memory leak. Memory leak issues in ax25_dev_device_down(): The reference count of ax25_dev is set to 1 in ax25_dev_device_up() and then increase the reference count when ax25_dev is added to ax25_dev_list. As a result, the reference count of ax25_dev is 2. But when the device is shutting down. The ax25_dev_device_down() drops the reference count once or twice depending on if we goto unlock_put or not, which will cause memory leak. As for the issue of ax25_addr_ax25dev(), it is impossible for one pointer to be on a list twice. So add a break in ax25_addr_ax25dev(). As for the issue of ax25_dev_device_down(), increase the reference count of ax25_dev once in ax25_dev_device_up() and decrease the reference count of ax25_dev after it is removed from the ax25_dev_list.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-38602 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-38602 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b505e0319852b08a3a716b64620168eab21f4ced (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ae467750a3765dd1092eb29f58247950a2f9b60c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/38eb01edfdaa1562fa00429be2e33f45383b1b3a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/81d8240b0a243b3ddd8fa8aa172f1acc2f7cc8f3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ea02699c7557eeb35ccff2bd822de1b3e09d868 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b505e0319852b08a3a716b64620168eab21f4ced (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6949-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6952-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6955-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6949-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6952-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7069-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7069-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7088-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7100-1 (opens in a new tab)