CVE-2025-38494Public exploit

Kernel memory corruption via zero-length HID report

Published Jul 28, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Incorrect length handling in the Linux kernel HID core allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory via a crafted HID report. hid_hw_request() called low-level transport callbacks directly, bypassing hid_hw_raw_request() validation so a zero report length underflows count. A local user with access to HID device nodes can expose adjacent heap data, overwrite kernel heap memory, or trigger an oops or panic without another user's interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect length handling in the Linux kernel HID core allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory via a crafted HID report. hid_hw_request() called low-level transport callbacks directly, bypassing hid_hw_raw_request() validation so a zero report length underflows count. A local user with access to HID device nodes can expose adjacent heap data, overwrite kernel heap memory, or trigger an oops or panic without another user's interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38494
Published
Jul 28, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-805, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.15
  2. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <0e5017d84d650ca0eeaf4a3fe9264c5dbc886b81
  3. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <19d1314d46c0d8a5c08ab53ddeb62280c77698c0
  4. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <40e25aa7e4e0f2440c73a683ee448e41c7c344ed
  5. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <a62a895edb2bfebffa865b5129a66e3b4287f34f
  6. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <c2ca42f190b6714d6c481dfd3d9b62ea091c946b
  7. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <d18f63e848840100dbc351a82e7042eac5a28cf5
  8. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <dd8e8314f2ce225dade5248dcfb9e2ac0edda624
  9. Affected versionversion=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <f10923b8d32a473b229477b63f23bbd72b1e9910

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.15; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <0e5017d84d650ca0eeaf4a3fe9264c5dbc886b81; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <19d1314d46c0d8a5c08ab53ddeb62280c77698c0; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <40e25aa7e4e0f2440c73a683ee448e41c7c344ed; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <a62a895edb2bfebffa865b5129a66e3b4287f34f; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <c2ca42f190b6714d6c481dfd3d9b62ea091c946b; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <d18f63e848840100dbc351a82e7042eac5a28cf5; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <dd8e8314f2ce225dade5248dcfb9e2ac0edda624; version=4fa5a7f76cc7b6ac87f57741edd2b124851d119f <f10923b8d32a473b229477b63f23bbd72b1e9910

Published CVSS scores

7.8OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0UbuntuCVSS:4.0/AV:P/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.3Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Linux 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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-805Buffer Access with Incorrect Length Value
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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