CVE-2025-38110

Kernel memory corruption via unchecked MDIO address

Published Jul 3, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux mdiobus in 6.3 through 6.16-rc1 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through Clause 45 ioctls. The Clause 45 handlers accept a 16-bit PHY address without enforcing the 32-address PHY_MAX_ADDR limit, so mdiobus_stats_acct reads and writes beyond its statistics array. Reaching the path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN over a Clause 45 PHY-backed network device; exploitation permits kernel-memory disclosure or modification and can panic the host.

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

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux mdiobus in 6.3 through 6.16-rc1 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through Clause 45 ioctls. The Clause 45 handlers accept a 16-bit PHY address without enforcing the 32-address PHY_MAX_ADDR limit, so mdiobus_stats_acct reads and writes beyond its statistics array. Reaching the path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN over a Clause 45 PHY-backed network device; exploitation permits kernel-memory disclosure or modification and can panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38110
Published
Jul 3, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 3, 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=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <260388f79e94fb3026c419a208ece8358bb7b555
  2. Affected versionversion=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <31bf7b2b92563a352788cf9df3698682f659bacc
  3. Affected versionversion=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <4ded22f7f3ce9714ed72c3e9c68fea1cb9388ae7
  4. Affected versionversion=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <abb0605ca00979a49572a6516f6db22c3dc57223
  5. Affected versionversion=6.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <260388f79e94fb3026c419a208ece8358bb7b555; version=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <31bf7b2b92563a352788cf9df3698682f659bacc; version=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <4ded22f7f3ce9714ed72c3e9c68fea1cb9388ae7; version=4e4aafcddbbfcdd6eed5780e190fcbfac8b4685a <abb0605ca00979a49572a6516f6db22c3dc57223; version=6.3

Published CVSS scores

7.1Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS: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

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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