CVE-2025-38303

Kernel crash via unchecked Bluetooth EIR append

Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Improper bounds checking in Linux kernel Bluetooth EIR code from 5.16 allows local users to crash the system through advertising data. The eir_create_adv_data function appends EIR_FLAGS or EIR_TX_POWER after existing advertising elements without confirming that the destination buffer has enough remaining space. Low-privileged local access and a Bluetooth advertising-data path are required; exceeding the buffer can terminate the kernel and interrupt service.

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

What happened

Improper bounds checking in Linux kernel Bluetooth EIR code from 5.16 allows local users to crash the system through advertising data. The eir_create_adv_data function appends EIR_FLAGS or EIR_TX_POWER after existing advertising elements without confirming that the destination buffer has enough remaining space. Low-privileged local access and a Bluetooth advertising-data path are required; exceeding the buffer can terminate the kernel and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38303
Published
Jul 10, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
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

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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=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <2af40d795d3fb0ee5c074b7ac56ab22402aa6e4f
  2. Affected versionversion=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <2d4588f55cc10fc228f3b46469dbfb3f0a8b13c8
  3. Affected versionversion=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <47c03902269aff377f959dc3fd94a9733aa31d6e
  4. Affected versionversion=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <b9db0c27e73b7c8a19384a44af527edfda74ff3d
  5. Affected versionversion=5.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <2af40d795d3fb0ee5c074b7ac56ab22402aa6e4f; version=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <2d4588f55cc10fc228f3b46469dbfb3f0a8b13c8; version=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <47c03902269aff377f959dc3fd94a9733aa31d6e; version=01ce70b0a274bd76a5a311fb90d4d446d9bdfea1 <b9db0c27e73b7c8a19384a44af527edfda74ff3d; version=5.16

Published CVSS scores

5.5Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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