Kernel compromise via unlocked ring-buffer error cleanup
Published Jul 3, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Kernel memory corruption in Linux 6.8 through 6.15.2 allows local users to crash the host or gain kernel control via tracefs. The ring_buffer_subbuf_order_set() error path releases the per-buffer mutex before freeing newly allocated per-CPU pages, allowing concurrent resize requests to corrupt lists and reuse freed memory. Access requires local writes to tracefs buffer_subbuf_size_kb and an mmap of trace_pipe_raw; ordinary accounts are exposed only where tracefs permissions delegate those operations.
Summary
What happened
Kernel memory corruption in Linux 6.8 through 6.15.2 allows local users to crash the host or gain kernel control via tracefs. The ring_buffer_subbuf_order_set() error path releases the per-buffer mutex before freeing newly allocated per-CPU pages, allowing concurrent resize requests to corrupt lists and reuse freed memory. Access requires local writes to tracefs buffer_subbuf_size_kb and an mmap of trace_pipe_raw; ordinary accounts are exposed only where tracefs permissions delegate those operations.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-38101
- Published
- Jul 3, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 3, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=6.8
- Affected versionversion=f9b94daa542a8d2532f0930f01cd9aec2d19621b <0fc9a295cd8e59c3636e97395e7c74a9c89fee42
- Affected versionversion=f9b94daa542a8d2532f0930f01cd9aec2d19621b <40ee2afafc1d9fe3aa44a6fbe440d78a5c96a72e
- Affected versionversion=f9b94daa542a8d2532f0930f01cd9aec2d19621b <e09c0600beea469b3ebf974464e526a02d59ad62
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- syzbot C reproducer for ring-buffer list corruptionproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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