Kernel fault via uninitialized Energy Model performance
Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026
Divide-by-zero in the Linux kernel Energy Model from 6.9 allows attackers to trigger a kernel fault during non-CPU device cost calculation. em_init_performance() leaves table[i].performance uninitialized for non-CPU devices, and em_compute_costs() later uses that value as a divisor. Reachability requires CONFIG_ENERGY_MODEL and the non-CPU cost path; the public record identifies no triggering user action or required privilege.
Summary
What happened
Divide-by-zero in the Linux kernel Energy Model from 6.9 allows attackers to trigger a kernel fault during non-CPU device cost calculation. em_init_performance() leaves table[i].performance uninitialized for non-CPU devices, and em_compute_costs() later uses that value as a divisor. Reachability requires CONFIG_ENERGY_MODEL and the non-CPU cost path; the public record identifies no triggering user action or required privilege.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-38297
- Published
- Jul 10, 2025
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 10, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=1b600da510735a0f92c8b4140a7e2cb037a6a6c3 <14cbdd64f3870cf0a2d94b87919b9056448c59a0
- Affected versionversion=1b600da510735a0f92c8b4140a7e2cb037a6a6c3 <179c0c7044a378198adb36f2a12410ab68cc730a
- Affected versionversion=1b600da510735a0f92c8b4140a7e2cb037a6a6c3 <81d72f9241d884ec29524431f74f8009310cfa0c
- Affected versionversion=6.9
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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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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