CVE-2024-38659: Linux kernel · enic: Validate length of nl attributes in enic_set_vf_port
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.3 High · fixed in 5.4.0-1130.140~18.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 11:12 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1130.140~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1135.142~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1134.143~18.04.1 +71
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 21 Jun 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6953-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6979-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7004-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7007-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7008-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-2 (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.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and included in Linux kernel versions 5.4.0-1077.82~18.04.1 and later, as well as 5.15.0-1069.75~20.04.1 and others. Users should apply the official kernel updates provided by their Linux distribution vendors, such as the Ubuntu security notice USN-6951-1. After updating, a system reboot is required. Due to ABI changes, recompilation and reinstallation of third-party kernel modules may be necessary.
Description
CVE-2024-38659 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's enic driver where the function enic_set_vf_port improperly assumes certain netlink attributes have fixed lengths. This can lead to out-of-bounds read access during memory copy operations. The issue arises because the length validation uses a policy that only enforces maximum sizes, not exact sizes, causing potential memory safety violations. Multiple Linux kernel versions prior to fixed releases are affected. A patch correcting this flaw is available and included in various Linux kernel updates.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-38659 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-38659 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/e8021b94b0412c37bcc79027c2e382086b6ce449 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b649d7e0cb42a660f0260ef25fd55fdc9c6c600 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca63fb7af9d3e531aa25f7ae187bfc6c7166ec2d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c0d36972edbe56fcf98899622d9b90ac9965227 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/25571a12fbc8a1283bd8380d461267956fd426f7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7077c22f84f41974a711604a42fd0e0684232ee5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f6638e955ca00c489894789492776842e102af9c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/aee1955a1509a921c05c70dad5d6fc8563dfcb31 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e8021b94b0412c37bcc79027c2e382086b6ce449 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6953-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6951-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6979-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6999-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7004-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7005-1 (opens in a new tab)