CVE-2025-38076

Kernel memory access via freed allocation counters

Published Jun 18, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel 6.13 through 6.14.8 and 6.15-rc1 through 6.15-rc6 allows local users to access freed kernel memory. During module unloading, free_module() frees per-CPU counters even when still-live allocation tags retain references to them, so later access dereferences freed storage. Triggering the flaw requires memory-allocation profiling and CAP_SYS_MODULE in the initial user namespace; neither a deterministic crash nor code execution is reported.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
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 Linux kernel 6.13 through 6.14.8 and 6.15-rc1 through 6.15-rc6 allows local users to access freed kernel memory. During module unloading, free_module() frees per-CPU counters even when still-live allocation tags retain references to them, so later access dereferences freed storage. Triggering the flaw requires memory-allocation profiling and CAP_SYS_MODULE in the initial user namespace; neither a deterministic crash nor code execution is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38076
Published
Jun 18, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=0db6f8d7820a4b788565dac8eed52bfc2c3216da <12ca42c237756182aad8ab04654c952765cb9061
  2. Affected versionversion=0db6f8d7820a4b788565dac8eed52bfc2c3216da <3cc733e6d96c938d2b82be96858a0ab900eb6fdc
  3. Affected versionversion=6.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0db6f8d7820a4b788565dac8eed52bfc2c3216da <12ca42c237756182aad8ab04654c952765cb9061; version=0db6f8d7820a4b788565dac8eed52bfc2c3216da <3cc733e6d96c938d2b82be96858a0ab900eb6fdc; version=6.13

Published CVSS scores

7.8CanonicalCVSS: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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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