CVE-2025-38051Public exploit

Kernel memory disclosure and panic via readdir race

Published Jun 18, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel SMB client allows local users to disclose kernel memory or crash the host via concurrent directory reads. The cifs_readdir path can free the response buffer while another directory reader continues into cifs_fill_dirent, which dereferences stale srch_inf pointers. An unprivileged local account needs read access to an existing CIFS mount; exploitation can leak freed kernel heap data, corrupt kernel memory, or panic the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel SMB client allows local users to disclose kernel memory or crash the host via concurrent directory reads. The cifs_readdir path can free the response buffer while another directory reader continues into cifs_fill_dirent, which dereferences stale srch_inf pointers. An unprivileged local account needs read access to an existing CIFS mount; exploitation can leak freed kernel heap data, corrupt kernel memory, or panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38051
Published
Jun 18, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0f3da51e7046e2eb28992ba65c22d058f571356c
  2. Affected versionversion=2.6.27.4 <2.6.28
  3. Affected versionversion=2.6.28
  4. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <1b197931fbc821bc7e9e91bf619400db563e3338
  5. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <73cadde98f67f76c5eba00ac0b72c453383cec8b
  6. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <9bea368648ac46f8593a780760362e40291d22a9
  7. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <9c9aafbacc183598f064902365e107b5e856531f
  8. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <a24c2f05ac3c5b0aaa539d9d913826d2643dfd0e
  9. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <a7a8fe56e932a36f43e031b398aef92341bf5ea0
  10. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <aee067e88d61eb72e966f094e4749c6b14e7008f
  11. Affected versionversion=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <c8623231e0edfcccb7cc6add0288fa0f0594282f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0f3da51e7046e2eb28992ba65c22d058f571356c; version=2.6.27.4 <2.6.28; version=2.6.28; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <1b197931fbc821bc7e9e91bf619400db563e3338; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <73cadde98f67f76c5eba00ac0b72c453383cec8b; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <9bea368648ac46f8593a780760362e40291d22a9; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <9c9aafbacc183598f064902365e107b5e856531f; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <a24c2f05ac3c5b0aaa539d9d913826d2643dfd0e; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <a7a8fe56e932a36f43e031b398aef92341bf5ea0; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <aee067e88d61eb72e966f094e4749c6b14e7008f; version=a364bc0b37f14ffd66c1f982af42990a9d77fa43 <c8623231e0edfcccb7cc6add0288fa0f0594282f

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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