CVE-2025-38533Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via uninitialized Rx DMA address

Published Aug 16, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use of an uninitialized DMA address in Linux 6.3 through 6.15.7 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via received frames. The libwx receive path programs descriptors with page_dma but passes the zeroed, never-initialized dma field to cache-maintenance calls, so the CPU synchronizes the wrong address while packet geometry controls offsets and lengths. A Wangxun adapter using libwx on a non-coherent platform must process the traffic; consequences include stale kernel-data disclosure, silent corruption, or a kernel panic.

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

Use of an uninitialized DMA address in Linux 6.3 through 6.15.7 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via received frames. The libwx receive path programs descriptors with page_dma but passes the zeroed, never-initialized dma field to cache-maintenance calls, so the CPU synchronizes the wrong address while packet geometry controls offsets and lengths. A Wangxun adapter using libwx on a non-coherent platform must process the traffic; consequences include stale kernel-data disclosure, silent corruption, or a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38533
Published
Aug 16, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <027701180a7bcb64c42eab291133ef0c87b5b6c5
  2. Affected versionversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <05c37b574997892a40a0e9b9b88a481566b2367d
  3. Affected versionversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <5fd77cc6bd9b368431a815a780e407b7781bcca0
  4. Affected versionversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <ba7c793f96c1c2b944bb6f423d7243f3afc30fe9
  5. Affected versionversion=6.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <027701180a7bcb64c42eab291133ef0c87b5b6c5; version=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <05c37b574997892a40a0e9b9b88a481566b2367d; version=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <5fd77cc6bd9b368431a815a780e407b7781bcca0; version=3c47e8ae113a68da47987750d9896e325d0aeedd <ba7c793f96c1c2b944bb6f423d7243f3afc30fe9; version=6.3

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux CNACVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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