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.
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
- Jul 25, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=6.15
- Affected versionversion=7d62ba8deacf94f546a0b9dd9bc86617343187a3 <6ad40b07e15c29712d9a4b8096914ccd82e3fc17
- Affected versionversion=7d62ba8deacf94f546a0b9dd9bc86617343187a3 <c80f2b047d5cc42fbd2dff9d1942d4ba7545100f
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Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
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