CVE-2025-38394

Kernel memory corruption via dangling input handler

Published Jul 25, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel 6.15 through 6.15.5 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during HID device registration. The appletb_kbd_probe function registers a device-managed handler but fails to unregister it when a later probe step fails, leaving input_handler_list to retain freed memory that input_attach_handler later dereferences. The same flaw affects 6.16-rc1 through 6.16-rc4; reaching it requires local access, a probe failure after handler registration, and later registration of another input device.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 6.15 through 6.15.5 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during HID device registration. The appletb_kbd_probe function registers a device-managed handler but fails to unregister it when a later probe step fails, leaving input_handler_list to retain freed memory that input_attach_handler later dereferences. The same flaw affects 6.16-rc1 through 6.16-rc4; reaching it requires local access, a probe failure after handler registration, and later registration of another input device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38394
Published
Jul 25, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 25, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.15
  2. Affected versionversion=7d62ba8deacf94f546a0b9dd9bc86617343187a3 <6ad40b07e15c29712d9a4b8096914ccd82e3fc17
  3. Affected versionversion=7d62ba8deacf94f546a0b9dd9bc86617343187a3 <c80f2b047d5cc42fbd2dff9d1942d4ba7545100f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.15; version=7d62ba8deacf94f546a0b9dd9bc86617343187a3 <6ad40b07e15c29712d9a4b8096914ccd82e3fc17; version=7d62ba8deacf94f546a0b9dd9bc86617343187a3 <c80f2b047d5cc42fbd2dff9d1942d4ba7545100f

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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-787Out-of-bounds Write

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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