CVE-2025-38408

Local kernel code execution via uninitialized ops pointer

Published Jul 25, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Improper initialization in Linux irq_sim allows local users to execute kernel code or crash the host through a GPIO or IIO device. The irq_sim_work_ctx allocation uses kmalloc without clearing the ops member, so irq_sim_request_resources tests and calls stale function pointers. Reachability requires an enabled simulator and access to its local character device; a failed indirect call causes a kernel oops or panic, while heap grooming enables kernel control-flow hijacking.

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

Improper initialization in Linux irq_sim allows local users to execute kernel code or crash the host through a GPIO or IIO device. The irq_sim_work_ctx allocation uses kmalloc without clearing the ops member, so irq_sim_request_resources tests and calls stale function pointers. Reachability requires an enabled simulator and access to its local character device; a failed indirect call causes a kernel oops or panic, while heap grooming enables kernel control-flow hijacking.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38408
Published
Jul 25, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
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=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <186df821de0f34490ed5fc0861243748b2483861
  2. Affected versionversion=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a
  3. Affected versionversion=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c
  4. Affected versionversion=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819
  5. Affected versionversion=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <c71aa4bb528ae6f8fd7577a0a39e5a03c60b04fb
  6. Affected versionversion=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <ec3656a8cb428d763def32bc2fa695f94be23629
  7. Affected versionversion=5.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <186df821de0f34490ed5fc0861243748b2483861; version=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a; version=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c; version=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819; version=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <c71aa4bb528ae6f8fd7577a0a39e5a03c60b04fb; version=337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 <ec3656a8cb428d763def32bc2fa695f94be23629; version=5.8

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS: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 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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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