CVE-2025-38497

Kernel-memory disclosure via empty configfs attribute write

Published Jul 28, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

An out-of-bounds read in affected Linux kernels since 3.16 allows local users to expose kernel memory through an empty configfs attribute write. The os_desc_qw_sign_store() and webusb_landingPage_store() functions read page[l - 1] before confirming that l is nonzero. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and permission to write qw_sign or landingPage; the read can disclose kernel data or crash the system.

CVSS severity7.1
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

An out-of-bounds read in affected Linux kernels since 3.16 allows local users to expose kernel memory through an empty configfs attribute write. The os_desc_qw_sign_store() and webusb_landingPage_store() functions read page[l - 1] before confirming that l is nonzero. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and permission to write qw_sign or landingPage; the read can disclose kernel data or crash the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38497
Published
Jul 28, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 28, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=3.16
  2. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <15a87206879951712915c03c8952a73d6a74721e
  3. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <22b7897c289cc25d99c603f5144096142a30d897
  4. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <2798111f8e504ac747cce911226135d50b8de468
  5. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <3014168731b7930300aab656085af784edc861f6
  6. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <58bdd5160184645771553ea732da5c2887fc9bd1
  7. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <783ea37b237a9b524f1e5ca018ea17d772ee0ea0
  8. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <78b41148cfea2a3f04d87adf3a71b21735820a37
  9. Affected versionversion=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <d68b7c8fefbaeae8f065b84e40cf64baf4cc0c76

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.16; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <15a87206879951712915c03c8952a73d6a74721e; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <22b7897c289cc25d99c603f5144096142a30d897; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <2798111f8e504ac747cce911226135d50b8de468; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <3014168731b7930300aab656085af784edc861f6; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <58bdd5160184645771553ea732da5c2887fc9bd1; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <783ea37b237a9b524f1e5ca018ea17d772ee0ea0; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <78b41148cfea2a3f04d87adf3a71b21735820a37; version=87213d388e927aaa88b21d5ff7e1f75ca2288da1 <d68b7c8fefbaeae8f065b84e40cf64baf4cc0c76

Published CVSS scores

7.0OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read

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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