CVE-2025-38456

Local privilege escalation via invalid interface decrement

Published Jul 25, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in the IPMI message handler in Linux kernel releases starting at 5.19 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory. ipmi_create_user() leaves the intf list iterator invalid when no interface number matches, then passes that pointer to atomic_dec() even though no user count was incremented. Access requires opening an unmatched /dev/ipmi device node; default Ubuntu permissions limit that path to root, while broader device permissions expose kernel crashes or privilege escalation.

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

Out-of-bounds write in the IPMI message handler in Linux kernel releases starting at 5.19 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory. ipmi_create_user() leaves the intf list iterator invalid when no interface number matches, then passes that pointer to atomic_dec() even though no user count was incremented. Access requires opening an unmatched /dev/ipmi device node; default Ubuntu permissions limit that path to root, while broader device permissions expose kernel crashes or privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38456
Published
Jul 25, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787, 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=5.19
  2. Affected versionversion=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <7c1a6ddb99858e7d68961f74ae27caeeeca67b6a
  3. Affected versionversion=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <9e0d33e75c1604c3fad5586ad4dfa3b2695a3950
  4. Affected versionversion=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <cbc1670297f675854e982d23c8583900ff0cc67a
  5. Affected versionversion=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <e2d5c005dfc96fe857676d1d8ac46b29275cb89b
  6. Affected versionversion=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <fa332f5dc6fc662ad7d3200048772c96b861cf6b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.19; version=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <7c1a6ddb99858e7d68961f74ae27caeeeca67b6a; version=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <9e0d33e75c1604c3fad5586ad4dfa3b2695a3950; version=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <cbc1670297f675854e982d23c8583900ff0cc67a; version=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <e2d5c005dfc96fe857676d1d8ac46b29275cb89b; version=8e76741c3d8b20dfa2d6c30fa10ff927cfd93d82 <fa332f5dc6fc662ad7d3200048772c96b861cf6b

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
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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