CVE-2024-53150 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Linux Kernel. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 9 April 2025, which means attackers have used it in real attacks. Linux Kernel contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the USB-audio driver that allows a local, privileged attacker to obtain potentially sensitive information.
What an out-of-bounds read means in the Linux kernel
An out-of-bounds read is a memory-safety flaw: code reads beyond the limits of a valid buffer or structure. In a kernel driver, that can expose adjacent kernel memory, leak internal state, or crash a process when the bad read is exercised.
For CVE-2024-53150, the danger is amplified by the privilege boundary. The vulnerability is in the USB-audio driver, so a local attacker who already has elevated access can use it to extract information the kernel should never reveal.
Why this kind of kernel bug matters
Kernel reads are especially sensitive because the kernel sits beneath every user-space process. Even when the bug does not write data or directly execute code, a read primitive can disclose pointers, credentials, stack data, or other memory that helps an attacker plan the next step. That is why memory-safety issues in core subsystems are treated as high-value security defects.
Because the flaw is in a driver, the exposure depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable on the system. A machine may be affected even if the hardware is rarely used, and a privileged local foothold can be enough to turn an internal bug into a meaningful disclosure channel.
How organisations assess exposure and response
Exposure review starts with asset inventory: identify which hosts run the affected Linux kernel builds and whether the USB-audio path is present in the environment. CISA’s KEV listing shows this issue was used in real attacks, so it should be prioritised alongside vendor advisories and any internal triage of internet-facing or high-value endpoints.
Use the NIST National Vulnerability Database and the CVE Program as authoritative references for the vulnerability record, then follow the Linux kernel or distribution advisory for version-specific remediation details.
Detection and post-exploitation review
After patching, organisations should still review for signs that the bug may have been exercised before remediation. A successful out-of-bounds read may not leave obvious artefacts, so the review often depends on indirect evidence such as unusual kernel warnings, unexplained crashes, or suspicious local activity around the affected host.
If there is any chance the vulnerability was used to expose secrets or session material, treat the event as an identity-impacting incident as well as a software flaw. Rotate or invalidate sensitive material that could have been in memory, and check whether the disclosure could have enabled further privilege escalation or lateral movement.
Risk and Threat Considerations
This vulnerability matters because a local privileged attacker can use a kernel read flaw to harvest sensitive memory without needing code execution. In practice, that can turn one compromised account or host into a broader compromise path if the attacker retrieves data that helps them move deeper.
Failure mechanism: The USB-audio driver performs an out-of-bounds read and returns memory from beyond the intended buffer boundary, exposing kernel-resident data that should remain inaccessible.
Impact: The attacker may recover information that weakens system secrecy, assists privilege escalation, or supports follow-on exploitation on the same host or elsewhere.
Standards & Framework Alignment
This section maps relevant standards and security frameworks to the operational risks and controls described in this guidance.
MITRE ATT&CK addresses the attack surface, NIST CSF 2.0, NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 and CIS Controls v8 set the technical controls, and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 defines the regulatory obligations.
| Framework | Control / Reference | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| NIST CSF 2.0 | ID.AM-01 — Physical devices and systems inventoried | Exposure assessment depends on knowing which hosts run the vulnerable kernel |
| Recommendation — Inventory affected hosts and kernel builds so you can prioritise remediation. | ||
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 | SI-16 — Memory Protection | The issue is a kernel memory boundary failure that memory protection controls address |
| Recommendation — Apply memory-protection controls and verify kernel components enforce buffer boundaries. | ||
| CIS Controls v8 | CIS-7 — Continuous Vulnerability Management | CISA KEV inclusion makes prioritised vulnerability management central to response |
| Recommendation — Prioritise and remediate this KEV-listed kernel flaw through continuous vulnerability management. | ||
| MITRE ATT&CK | T1212 — Exploitation for Credential Access | A kernel read can support attacker collection of sensitive data for later abuse |
| Recommendation — Hunt for exploitation chains that use memory disclosure to obtain credentials or secrets. | ||
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | A.8.8 — Management of technical vulnerabilities | Kernel CVEs require organised vulnerability management and remediation tracking |
| Recommendation — Track the kernel flaw through technical vulnerability management until patching is verified. | ||
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Reviewed and updated by the NHIMG editorial team on October 17, 2026.
NHI Mgmt Group — the #1 independent authority on Non-Human Identity, IAM, and Agentic AI security. nhimg.org