Aliased PCI device outage via reordered context setup
Published Jul 4, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Availability regression in the Linux kernel allows local users to interrupt aliased PCI device operation behind PCIe-to-PCI bridges. During domain attachment, the VT-d code clears and resets an alias context entry before configuring the primary device, so DMA reads encounter an unset PTE permission. The failure requires an affected kernel and aliased PCI hardware; observed consequences are nonworking keyboards and touchpads on several Apple MacBooks.
Summary
What happened
Availability regression in the Linux kernel allows local users to interrupt aliased PCI device operation behind PCIe-to-PCI bridges. During domain attachment, the VT-d code clears and resets an alias context entry before configuring the primary device, so DMA reads encounter an unset PTE permission. The failure requires an affected kernel and aliased PCI hardware; observed consequences are nonworking keyboards and touchpads on several Apple MacBooks.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-38216
- Published
- Jul 4, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 4, 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=2031c469f8161abe74189cb74f50da224f340b71 <320302baed05c6456164652541f23d2a96522c06
- Affected versionversion=2031c469f8161abe74189cb74f50da224f340b71 <d43c81b691813e16a2d08208ce8947aebdab83cd
- Affected versionversion=2031c469f8161abe74189cb74f50da224f340b71 <fb5873b779dd5858123c19bbd6959566771e2e83
- Affected versionversion=6.12
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
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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