CVE-2025-38538

Kernel memory corruption via probe loop overruns

Published Aug 16, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Out-of-bounds writes in the nbpfaxi DMA driver in Linux allow local users to corrupt kernel memory during device probing. In nbpf_probe(), three loops iterate past the num_channels-sized nbpf->chan array, while the IRQ-copy loop can also overrun irqbuf when an error IRQ makes its iterators diverge. Reachability requires the affected driver and device probe path; the published record establishes memory corruption but does not document a reliable path to code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
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 writes in the nbpfaxi DMA driver in Linux allow local users to corrupt kernel memory during device probing. In nbpf_probe(), three loops iterate past the num_channels-sized nbpf->chan array, while the IRQ-copy loop can also overrun irqbuf when an error IRQ makes its iterators diverge. Reachability requires the affected driver and device probe path; the published record establishes memory corruption but does not document a reliable path to code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38538
Published
Aug 16, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-787
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 16, 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=3.17
  2. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <122160289adf8ebf15060f1cbf6265b55a914948
  3. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <188c6ba1dd925849c5d94885c8bbdeb0b3dcf510
  4. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <24861ef8b517a309a4225f2793be0cd8fa0bec9e
  5. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <4bb016438335ec02b01f96bf1367378c2bfe03e5
  6. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <84fff8e6f11b9af1407e273995b5257d99ff0cff
  7. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <aec396b4f736f3f8d2c28a9cd2924a4ada57ae87
  8. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <d6bbd67ab5de37a74ac85c83c5a26664b62034dd
  9. Affected versionversion=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <f366b36c5e3ce29c9a3c8eed3d1631908e4fc8bb

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.17; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <122160289adf8ebf15060f1cbf6265b55a914948; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <188c6ba1dd925849c5d94885c8bbdeb0b3dcf510; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <24861ef8b517a309a4225f2793be0cd8fa0bec9e; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <4bb016438335ec02b01f96bf1367378c2bfe03e5; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <84fff8e6f11b9af1407e273995b5257d99ff0cff; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <aec396b4f736f3f8d2c28a9cd2924a4ada57ae87; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <d6bbd67ab5de37a74ac85c83c5a26664b62034dd; version=b45b262cefd5b8eb2ba88d20e5bd295881293894 <f366b36c5e3ce29c9a3c8eed3d1631908e4fc8bb

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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

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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-787Out-of-bounds Write

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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