CVE-2025-38346

Kernel crash via stale ftrace module reference

Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel ftrace allows local users to crash the kernel through module teardown followed by kallsyms access. ftrace_release_mod() returns early when ftrace_disable is set, leaving mod_list with a pointer to unloaded module memory that ftrace_mod_get_kallsym() later copies. The demonstrated sequence requires a kprobe tracepoint and a buggy module that disables ftrace before unloading, followed by access to /proc/kallsyms.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux kernel ftrace allows local users to crash the kernel through module teardown followed by kallsyms access. ftrace_release_mod() returns early when ftrace_disable is set, leaving mod_list with a pointer to unloaded module memory that ftrace_mod_get_kallsym() later copies. The demonstrated sequence requires a kprobe tracepoint and a buggy module that disables ftrace before unloading, followed by access to /proc/kallsyms.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38346
Published
Jul 10, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, 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

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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=4.15
  2. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <03a162933c4a03b9f1a84f7d8482903c7e1e11bb
  3. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <6805582abb720681dd1c87ff677f155dcf4e86c9
  4. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <83a692a9792aa86249d68a8ac0b9d55ecdd255fa
  5. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <8690cd3258455bbae64f809e1d3ee0f043661c71
  6. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <8e89c17dc8970c5f71a3a991f5724d4c8de42d8c
  7. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <d064c68781c19f378af1ae741d9132d35d24b2bb
  8. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <f78a786ad9a5443a29eef4dae60cde85b7375129
  9. Affected versionversion=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <f914b52c379c12288b7623bb814d0508dbe7481d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.15; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <03a162933c4a03b9f1a84f7d8482903c7e1e11bb; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <6805582abb720681dd1c87ff677f155dcf4e86c9; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <83a692a9792aa86249d68a8ac0b9d55ecdd255fa; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <8690cd3258455bbae64f809e1d3ee0f043661c71; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <8e89c17dc8970c5f71a3a991f5724d4c8de42d8c; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <d064c68781c19f378af1ae741d9132d35d24b2bb; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <f78a786ad9a5443a29eef4dae60cde85b7375129; version=aba4b5c22cbac296f4081a0476d0c55828f135b4 <f914b52c379c12288b7623bb814d0508dbe7481d

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8kernel.orgCVSS: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 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-416Use After Free
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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