CVE-2025-38268

System hang via unlocked TCPM state check

Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper locking in Linux kernel TCPM allows local users to hang affected systems through a DisplayPort Alt Mode race. The unprotected state check in tcpm_queue_vdm_unlocked can pass before TCPM changes state while holding tcpm_lock, leaving DisplayPort Alt Mode work waiting on that lock as TCPM waits in cancel_work_sync. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a USB Type-C DisplayPort Alt Mode transition during the narrow race window; the resulting deadlock interrupts system availability.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper locking in Linux kernel TCPM allows local users to hang affected systems through a DisplayPort Alt Mode race. The unprotected state check in tcpm_queue_vdm_unlocked can pass before TCPM changes state while holding tcpm_lock, leaving DisplayPort Alt Mode work waiting on that lock as TCPM waits in cancel_work_sync. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a USB Type-C DisplayPort Alt Mode transition during the narrow race window; the resulting deadlock interrupts system availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38268
Published
Jul 10, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-667, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 10, 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=6.9
  2. Affected versionversion=cdc9946ea6377e8e214b135ccc308c5e514ba25f <1970d34b48cbeceb0c765984c9a6bb204c77f16a
  3. Affected versionversion=cdc9946ea6377e8e214b135ccc308c5e514ba25f <324d45e53f1a36c88bc649dc39e0c8300a41be0a
  4. Affected versionversion=cdc9946ea6377e8e214b135ccc308c5e514ba25f <7bdd712abefbec79176ab412d8c623e755c5d0ba

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.9; version=cdc9946ea6377e8e214b135ccc308c5e514ba25f <1970d34b48cbeceb0c765984c9a6bb204c77f16a; version=cdc9946ea6377e8e214b135ccc308c5e514ba25f <324d45e53f1a36c88bc649dc39e0c8300a41be0a; version=cdc9946ea6377e8e214b135ccc308c5e514ba25f <7bdd712abefbec79176ab412d8c623e755c5d0ba

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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

CWE-667Improper Locking
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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