CVE-2025-38278

Kernel memory compromise via QOS teardown race

Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Memory corruption in the Linux kernel allows local users to read or alter kernel memory or crash the host through HTB class deletion. The octeontx2-pf QOS callback frees send-queue resources and an RCU-visible QOS node while traffic can still use them, and teardown also regrows queues after device unregistration. The path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN, obtainable in an owned network namespace or through an assigned SR-IOV VF, and needs no user interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in the Linux kernel allows local users to read or alter kernel memory or crash the host through HTB class deletion. The octeontx2-pf QOS callback frees send-queue resources and an RCU-visible QOS node while traffic can still use them, and teardown also regrows queues after device unregistration. The path requires CAP_NET_ADMIN, obtainable in an owned network namespace or through an assigned SR-IOV VF, and needs no user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38278
Published
Jul 10, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 10, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <5df8db01d6a4e9c35a5ba5d7e130d5cecd3ffcb4
  2. Affected versionversion=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <67af4ec948e8ce3ea53a9cf614d01fddf172e56d
  3. Affected versionversion=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <ec62c99914a79d84c8de5ba1b94d62f2ed721f2a
  4. Affected versionversion=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <f1fca0eae5a0573f226f46c6871260278e7dda12
  5. Affected versionversion=6.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <5df8db01d6a4e9c35a5ba5d7e130d5cecd3ffcb4; version=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <67af4ec948e8ce3ea53a9cf614d01fddf172e56d; version=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <ec62c99914a79d84c8de5ba1b94d62f2ed721f2a; version=5e6808b4c68d7882971514ab3279926eb07c8b2d <f1fca0eae5a0573f226f46c6871260278e7dda12; version=6.5

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS: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

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

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo