CVE-2025-38279

Kernel warning via stack-pointer precision bookkeeping

Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated May 23, 2026

Improper BPF verifier backtracking in Linux 6.4.4 through 6.15.2 allows local users to trigger a kernel warning with crafted BPF. The __mark_chain_precision path incorrectly adds the always-precise R10 stack pointer to its register mask while backtracking a conditional jump. Reachability requires loading a BPF program with a register-to-stack-pointer comparison; the documented result is a verifier warning and program rejection.

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

Improper BPF verifier backtracking in Linux 6.4.4 through 6.15.2 allows local users to trigger a kernel warning with crafted BPF. The __mark_chain_precision path incorrectly adds the always-precise R10 stack pointer to its register mask while backtracking a conditional jump. Reachability requires loading a BPF program with a register-to-stack-pointer comparison; the documented result is a verifier warning and program rejection.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38279
Published
Jul 10, 2025
Updated
May 23, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 10, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 23, 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=407958a0e980b9e1842ab87b5a1040521e1e24e9 <4265682c29c92f52c0da6fad5a79b5801462c8de
  2. Affected versionversion=407958a0e980b9e1842ab87b5a1040521e1e24e9 <ac49b7560b4b08b1e4043a29214cc7ad77644c00
  3. Affected versionversion=407958a0e980b9e1842ab87b5a1040521e1e24e9 <e2d2115e56c4a02377189bfc3a9a7933552a7b0f
  4. Affected versionversion=6.4.4 <6.5
  5. Affected versionversion=6.5
  6. Affected versionversion=fc2778c42f99c7de52fc004157b3c3ee4dcc208a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=407958a0e980b9e1842ab87b5a1040521e1e24e9 <4265682c29c92f52c0da6fad5a79b5801462c8de; version=407958a0e980b9e1842ab87b5a1040521e1e24e9 <ac49b7560b4b08b1e4043a29214cc7ad77644c00; version=407958a0e980b9e1842ab87b5a1040521e1e24e9 <e2d2115e56c4a02377189bfc3a9a7933552a7b0f; version=6.4.4 <6.5; version=6.5; version=fc2778c42f99c7de52fc004157b3c3ee4dcc208a

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS: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.

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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

No sourced classifications are available.

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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