CVE-2025-38596

Kernel memory corruption via stale debugfs write

Published Aug 19, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel 6.16 Panthor GEM handling allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a render-node ioctl race. panthor_gem_create_with_handle() calls drm_gem_object_put() before updating debugfs flags, so concurrent GEM_CLOSE processing can free the object before the stale write. Access to a Panthor DRM render node is required; the race can disclose or overwrite kernel memory or trigger an oops or panic.

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 Linux kernel 6.16 Panthor GEM handling allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a render-node ioctl race. panthor_gem_create_with_handle() calls drm_gem_object_put() before updating debugfs flags, so concurrent GEM_CLOSE processing can free the object before the stale write. Access to a Panthor DRM render node is required; the race can disclose or overwrite kernel memory or trigger an oops or panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38596
Published
Aug 19, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, 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=6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=a3707f53eb3f4f3e7a30d720be0885f813d649bb <5f2be12442db6a2904e6e31b0e3b5ad5aebf868b
  3. Affected versionversion=a3707f53eb3f4f3e7a30d720be0885f813d649bb <fe69a391808404977b1f002a6e7447de3de7a88e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.16; version=a3707f53eb3f4f3e7a30d720be0885f813d649bb <5f2be12442db6a2904e6e31b0e3b5ad5aebf868b; version=a3707f53eb3f4f3e7a30d720be0885f813d649bb <fe69a391808404977b1f002a6e7447de3de7a88e

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-416Use After Free
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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