CVE-2025-38580

Kernel memory corruption via stale ext4 inode

Published Aug 19, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in ext4 in Linux 6.15 before 6.15.10 and 6.16 before 6.16.1 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via file writes. ext4_io_end_defer_completion() queues an io_end with no pending conversion, then ext4_finish_bio() permits its inode to be freed before ext4_end_io_rsv_work() dereferences it. Any unprivileged local user with write access to a mounted ext4 filesystem can drive the default data_err=ignore path, causing kernel reads and writes through freed memory, a crash, or a hang.

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

Use-after-free in ext4 in Linux 6.15 before 6.15.10 and 6.16 before 6.16.1 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via file writes. ext4_io_end_defer_completion() queues an io_end with no pending conversion, then ext4_finish_bio() permits its inode to be freed before ext4_end_io_rsv_work() dereferences it. Any unprivileged local user with write access to a mounted ext4 filesystem can drive the default data_err=ignore path, causing kernel reads and writes through freed memory, a crash, or a hang.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38580
Published
Aug 19, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 19, 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=6.15
  2. Affected versionversion=ce51afb8cc5e1867ea0dfdf5e92ddbe31a1fad5d <469c44e66e2110054949609dde095788320139d0
  3. Affected versionversion=ce51afb8cc5e1867ea0dfdf5e92ddbe31a1fad5d <ac999862b98a0f49e858e509f776be51406f1e77
  4. Affected versionversion=ce51afb8cc5e1867ea0dfdf5e92ddbe31a1fad5d <c678bdc998754589cea2e6afab9401d7d8312ac4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.15; version=ce51afb8cc5e1867ea0dfdf5e92ddbe31a1fad5d <469c44e66e2110054949609dde095788320139d0; version=ce51afb8cc5e1867ea0dfdf5e92ddbe31a1fad5d <ac999862b98a0f49e858e509f776be51406f1e77; version=ce51afb8cc5e1867ea0dfdf5e92ddbe31a1fad5d <c678bdc998754589cea2e6afab9401d7d8312ac4

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS: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

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

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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