CVE-2025-38250

Kernel compromise via unsynchronized VHCI teardown

Published Jul 9, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel Bluetooth VHCI allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to compromise the kernel through a race. hci_unregister_dev() removes hdev from hci_dev_list and frees its vhci_data without waiting for an in-flight HCIDEVRESET ioctl, leaving vhci_flush() to access reclaimed memory. Concurrent device teardown is required; successful exploitation enables kernel-memory read or write, privilege escalation, or a kernel panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 Bluetooth VHCI allows local users with CAP_NET_ADMIN to compromise the kernel through a race. hci_unregister_dev() removes hdev from hci_dev_list and frees its vhci_data without waiting for an in-flight HCIDEVRESET ioctl, leaving vhci_flush() to access reclaimed memory. Concurrent device teardown is required; successful exploitation enables kernel-memory read or write, privilege escalation, or a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38250
Published
Jul 9, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 9, 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=3.4
  2. Affected versionversion=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <0e5c144c557df910ab64d9c25d06399a9a735e65
  3. Affected versionversion=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <1d6123102e9fbedc8d25bf4731da6d513173e49e
  4. Affected versionversion=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <90dee0a0ff84fac8accd5be98412b3819f667149
  5. Affected versionversion=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <bc0819a25e04cd68ef3568cfa51b63118fea39a7
  6. Affected versionversion=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <c56b177efce8b62798e4d96bdb9867106cb7c4a0
  7. Affected versionversion=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <ce23b73f0f27e2dbeb81734a79db710f05aa33c6
  8. Affected versionversion=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <dd4becd3fd4102696e1c15e6d260a1712a2d8685

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.4; version=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <0e5c144c557df910ab64d9c25d06399a9a735e65; version=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <1d6123102e9fbedc8d25bf4731da6d513173e49e; version=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <90dee0a0ff84fac8accd5be98412b3819f667149; version=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <bc0819a25e04cd68ef3568cfa51b63118fea39a7; version=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <c56b177efce8b62798e4d96bdb9867106cb7c4a0; version=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <ce23b73f0f27e2dbeb81734a79db710f05aa33c6; version=bf18c7118cf83ad4b9aa476354b4a06bcb9d0c4f <dd4becd3fd4102696e1c15e6d260a1712a2d8685

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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