How severe is CVE-2009-3238?

CVE-2009-3238 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2009-3238 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (73rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3238?

CVE-2009-3238 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3238?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2009-3238 published?

CVE-2009-3238 was published on 2009-09-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2009-3238

CVE-2009-3238 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-338.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 7.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (73rd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-338
Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
Published: 2009-09-18
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The get_random_int function in drivers/char/random.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.30 produces insufficiently random numbers, which allows attackers to predict the return value, and possibly defeat protection mechanisms based on randomization, via vectors that leverage the function's tendency to "return the same value over and over again for long stretches of time."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3238?: The get_random_int function in drivers/char/random.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.30 produces insufficiently random numbers, which allows attackers to predict the return value, and possibly defeat protection mechanisms based on randomization, via vectors that leverage the function's tendency to "return the same value over and over again for long stretches of time."
How severe is CVE-2009-3238?: CVE-2009-3238 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2009-3238 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (73rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-3238?: CVE-2009-3238 primarily affects Linux Linux Kernel. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-3238?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2009-3238 published?: CVE-2009-3238 was published on 2009-09-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (8)

cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:10:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:10:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Linux Linux Kernel

CVE-2023-2163 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Incorrect verifier pruning in BPF in Linux Kernel >=5.4 leads to unsafe code paths being incorrectly marked as safe,…
CVE-2015-8104 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel through 4.2.6, and Xen 4.3.x through 4.6.x, allows guest OS users to cause a…
CVE-2015-1421 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use-after-free vulnerability in the sctp_assoc_update function in net/sctp/associola.c in the Linux kernel before…
CVE-2014-2523 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_proto_dccp.c in the Linux kernel through 3.13.6 uses a DCCP header pointer incorrectly,…
CVE-2010-2495 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The pppol2tp_xmit function in drivers/net/pppol2tp.c in the L2TP implementation in the Linux kernel before 2.6.34 does…
CVE-2010-2521 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Multiple buffer overflows in fs/nfsd/nfs4xdr.c in the XDR implementation in the NFS server in the Linux kernel before…

All CVEs affecting Linux Linux Kernel →

Other CWE-338 vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-56141 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In JetBrains Hub before 2026.1.13757, 2025.3.148033, 2025.2.148048, 2025.1.148120, 2024.3.148430, 2024.2.148429 account…
CVE-2026-3256 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): HTTP::Session versions before 0.54 for Perl defaults to using insecurely generated session ids. HTTP::Session defaults…
CVE-2025-15604 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Amon2 versions before 6.17 for Perl use an insecure random_string implementation for security functions. In versions…
CVE-2025-40926 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Plack::Middleware::Session::Simple versions before 0.05 for Perl generates session ids insecurely. The default session…
CVE-2026-2439 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Concierge::Sessions versions from 0.8.1 before 0.8.5 for Perl generate insecure session ids. The generate_session_id…
CVE-2025-15578 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Maypole versions from 2.10 through 2.13 for Perl generates session ids insecurely. The session id is seeded with the…

Browse all CWE-338 vulnerabilities →