CVE-2025-38382

Kernel crash via uninitialized extref name length

Published Jul 25, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use of uninitialized data in Linux btrfs allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted extref during log replay. In __inode_add_ref(), a jump to the next label leaves victim_name.len unset, so the next loop iteration uses an undefined length and performs an invalid memory access. Local low-privileged access is required, and replay of the malformed filesystem log can cause a kernel crash; no network-reachable path is reported.

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

Use of uninitialized data in Linux btrfs allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted extref during log replay. In __inode_add_ref(), a jump to the next label leaves victim_name.len unset, so the next loop iteration uses an undefined length and performs an invalid memory access. Local low-privileged access is required, and replay of the malformed filesystem log can cause a kernel crash; no network-reachable path is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38382
Published
Jul 25, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-908
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 25, 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=1cf474cd474bc5d3ef63086ffd009a87a5b7bb2e <539969fc472886a1d63565459514d47e27fef461
  2. Affected versionversion=6.1.57 <6.1.144
  3. Affected versionversion=6.2
  4. Affected versionversion=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <2d11d274e2e1d7c79e2ca8461ce3ff3a95c11171
  5. Affected versionversion=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <54a7081ed168b72a8a2d6ef4ba3a1259705a2926
  6. Affected versionversion=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <7ac790dc2ba00499a8d671d4a24de4d4ad27e234
  7. Affected versionversion=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <aee57a0293dca675637e5504709f9f8fd8e871be

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1cf474cd474bc5d3ef63086ffd009a87a5b7bb2e <539969fc472886a1d63565459514d47e27fef461; version=6.1.57 <6.1.144; version=6.2; version=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <2d11d274e2e1d7c79e2ca8461ce3ff3a95c11171; version=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <54a7081ed168b72a8a2d6ef4ba3a1259705a2926; version=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <7ac790dc2ba00499a8d671d4a24de4d4ad27e234; version=e43eec81c5167b655b72c781b0e75e62a05e415e <aee57a0293dca675637e5504709f9f8fd8e871be

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5NIST NVDCVSS: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

CWE-908Use of Uninitialized Resource

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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