CVE-2025-38439Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via zero-length DMA unmap

Published Jul 25, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Memory corruption in bnxt_en in affected Linux kernels allows remote attackers to disrupt hosts through XDP_REDIRECT traffic. The transmit path records a zero DMA-unmap length, so completion frees an incorrectly sized IOVA while the frame's page returns to reuse. Reachability requires a physical Broadcom NetXtreme interface with XDP_REDIRECT and IOMMU enabled; repeated packets can panic the kernel or stop forwarding.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in bnxt_en in affected Linux kernels allows remote attackers to disrupt hosts through XDP_REDIRECT traffic. The transmit path records a zero DMA-unmap length, so completion frees an incorrectly sized IOVA while the frame's page returns to reuse. Reachability requires a physical Broadcom NetXtreme interface with XDP_REDIRECT and IOMMU enabled; repeated packets can panic the kernel or stop forwarding.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38439
Published
Jul 25, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=5.3
  2. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <16ae306602163fcb7ae83f2701b542e43c100cee
  3. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <3cdf199d4755d477972ee87110b2aebc88b3cfad
  4. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <50dad9909715094e7d9ca25e9e0412b875987519
  5. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <5909679a82cd74cf0343d9e3ddf4b6931aa7e613
  6. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <8d672a1a6bfc81fef9151925c9c0481f4acf4bec
  7. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <e260f4d49370c85a4701d43c6d16b8c39f8b605f
  8. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <f154e41e1d9d15ab21300ba7bbf0ebb5cb3b9c2a
  9. Affected versionversion=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <f9eaf6d036075dc820520e1194692c0619b7297b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.3; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <16ae306602163fcb7ae83f2701b542e43c100cee; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <3cdf199d4755d477972ee87110b2aebc88b3cfad; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <50dad9909715094e7d9ca25e9e0412b875987519; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <5909679a82cd74cf0343d9e3ddf4b6931aa7e613; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <8d672a1a6bfc81fef9151925c9c0481f4acf4bec; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <e260f4d49370c85a4701d43c6d16b8c39f8b605f; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <f154e41e1d9d15ab21300ba7bbf0ebb5cb3b9c2a; version=f18c2b77b2e4eec2313d519ba125bd6a069513cf <f9eaf6d036075dc820520e1194692c0619b7297b

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5UbuntuCVSS: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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation Flood

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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