CVE-2025-38421

Local kernel compromise via AMD PMF double free

Published Jul 25, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Double free in the Linux kernel AMD PMF driver allows local users to compromise kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability. A failed Smart PC setup frees dev->buf without clearing it, and amd_pmf_remove() frees the stale pointer again during driver unload. The trigger requires Smart PC setup to fail before amd-pmf is unloaded, after which kernel memory corruption can crash or compromise the host.

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

What happened

Double free in the Linux kernel AMD PMF driver allows local users to compromise kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability. A failed Smart PC setup frees dev->buf without clearing it, and amd_pmf_remove() frees the stale pointer again during driver unload. The trigger requires Smart PC setup to fail before amd-pmf is unloaded, after which kernel memory corruption can crash or compromise the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38421
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=3ed60e51ffdbfef14169bd967e21a6ba5e5ff42b
  2. Affected versionversion=5b1122fc4995f308b21d7cfc64ef9880ac834d20 <0d10b532f861253c283863522d59d099fcb0796d
  3. Affected versionversion=5b1122fc4995f308b21d7cfc64ef9880ac834d20 <d9db3a941270d92bbd1a6a6b54a10324484f2f2d
  4. Affected versionversion=6.12.23 <6.13
  5. Affected versionversion=6.13.11 <6.14
  6. Affected versionversion=6.14
  7. Affected versionversion=e70b4b8f93d7fcf8ee063a1d1f18782c4da3d335

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3ed60e51ffdbfef14169bd967e21a6ba5e5ff42b; version=5b1122fc4995f308b21d7cfc64ef9880ac834d20 <0d10b532f861253c283863522d59d099fcb0796d; version=5b1122fc4995f308b21d7cfc64ef9880ac834d20 <d9db3a941270d92bbd1a6a6b54a10324484f2f2d; version=6.12.23 <6.13; version=6.13.11 <6.14; version=6.14; version=e70b4b8f93d7fcf8ee063a1d1f18782c4da3d335

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS: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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