Kernel crash via zero DAMON interval denominator
Published Aug 16, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026
Divide by zero in Linux kernel 6.15 through 6.15.6 allows local users to crash the kernel through DAMON interval auto-tuning. In mm/damon/core.c, damon_get_intervals_score() divides access_events by target_access_events without ensuring that a zero-size region or zero access-basis-point goal leaves a nonzero denominator. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and one of those zero-valued states; the divide error causes a kernel oops and service interruption.
Summary
What happened
Divide by zero in Linux kernel 6.15 through 6.15.6 allows local users to crash the kernel through DAMON interval auto-tuning. In mm/damon/core.c, damon_get_intervals_score() divides access_events by target_access_events without ensuring that a zero-size region or zero access-basis-point goal leaves a nonzero denominator. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and one of those zero-valued states; the divide error causes a kernel oops and service interruption.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-38519
- Published
- Aug 16, 2025
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-369, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=6.15
- Affected versionversion=f04b0fedbe714f822bd066b319a60faa39a985a1 <bd225b9591442065beb876da72656f4a2d627d03
- Affected versionversion=f04b0fedbe714f822bd066b319a60faa39a985a1 <ca4bb9ac706f05ead8ac1cce7b8245fc0645a687
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What is affected?
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Attacks
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Technologies
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