CVE-2025-38490Network attack vector

Kernel compromise or panic via duplicate page release

Published Jul 28, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Double free in Linux kernel libwx allows remote attackers to compromise or crash affected systems by sending jumbo network frames. The wx_clean_rx_irq receive path calls page_pool_put_full_page() for a non-final frame and later reuses the prematurely released page, creating overlapping ownership and allocator corruption. Exposure requires a Wangxun NIC using libwx and an MTU above the 2 KB receive-buffer size; no account or user action is required.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.30%
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 Linux kernel libwx allows remote attackers to compromise or crash affected systems by sending jumbo network frames. The wx_clean_rx_irq receive path calls page_pool_put_full_page() for a non-final frame and later reuses the prematurely released page, creating overlapping ownership and allocator corruption. Exposure requires a Wangxun NIC using libwx and an MTU above the 2 KB receive-buffer size; no account or user action is required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38490
Published
Jul 28, 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 28, 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=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <003e4765d8661be97e650a833868c53d35574130
  2. Affected versionversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <08d18bda0d03f5ec376929a8c6c4495f9594593a
  3. Affected versionversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <1b7e585c04cd5f0731dd25ffd396277e55fae0e6
  4. Affected versionversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <3c91a56762b1f0d1e4af2d86c2cba83b61ed9eaa
  5. Affected versionversion=6.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <003e4765d8661be97e650a833868c53d35574130; version=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <08d18bda0d03f5ec376929a8c6c4495f9594593a; version=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <1b7e585c04cd5f0731dd25ffd396277e55fae0e6; version=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <3c91a56762b1f0d1e4af2d86c2cba83b61ed9eaa; version=6.3

Published CVSS scores

9.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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