CVE-2025-38502

Kernel memory corruption via mismatched BPF storage

Published Aug 16, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Out-of-bounds access in the Linux kernel allows local users to read or corrupt kernel memory through crafted BPF tail calls. After a tail call between programs with different cgroup storage sizes, bpf_get_local_storage() retains the first program's map rather than selecting the callee's map. An unprivileged local user can disclose data, escalate privileges, or panic the kernel when unprivileged BPF is enabled.

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 access in the Linux kernel allows local users to read or corrupt kernel memory through crafted BPF tail calls. After a tail call between programs with different cgroup storage sizes, bpf_get_local_storage() retains the first program's map rather than selecting the callee's map. An unprivileged local user can disclose data, escalate privileges, or panic the kernel when unprivileged BPF is enabled.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38502
Published
Aug 16, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 16, 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=5.9
  2. Affected versionversion=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <19341d5c59e8c7e8528e40f8663e99d67810473c
  3. Affected versionversion=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <41688d1fc5d163a6c2c0e95c0419e2cb31a44648
  4. Affected versionversion=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <66da7cee78590259b400e51a70622ccd41da7bb2
  5. Affected versionversion=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <7acfa07c585e3d7a64654d38f0a5c762877d0b9b
  6. Affected versionversion=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <abad3d0bad72a52137e0c350c59542d75ae4f513
  7. Affected versionversion=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <c1c74584b9b4043c52e41fec415226e582d266a3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.9; version=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <19341d5c59e8c7e8528e40f8663e99d67810473c; version=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <41688d1fc5d163a6c2c0e95c0419e2cb31a44648; version=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <66da7cee78590259b400e51a70622ccd41da7bb2; version=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <7acfa07c585e3d7a64654d38f0a5c762877d0b9b; version=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <abad3d0bad72a52137e0c350c59542d75ae4f513; version=7d9c3427894fe70d1347b4820476bf37736d2ff0 <c1c74584b9b4043c52e41fec415226e582d266a3
Siemens · SIMATIC CN 4100version=0 <V5.0

Published CVSS scores

4.0Siemens ProductCERTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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
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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