CVE-2025-38618

Kernel memory corruption via vsock refcount decrement

Published Aug 22, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel vsock subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a bound socket. The __vsock_bind_connectible() path permits VMADDR_PORT_ANY; an accepted socket is absent from the unbound list, so rebinding decrements its reference count again. Exploitation requires local access and a usable vsock transport; the resulting memory corruption can crash or compromise the kernel.

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

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel vsock subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a bound socket. The __vsock_bind_connectible() path permits VMADDR_PORT_ANY; an accepted socket is absent from the unbound list, so rebinding decrements its reference count again. Exploitation requires local access and a usable vsock transport; the resulting memory corruption can crash or compromise the kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38618
Published
Aug 22, 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 22, 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=3.9
  2. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <32950b1907919be86a7a2697d6f93d57068b3865
  3. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <44bd006d5c93f6a8f28b106cbae2428c5d0275b7
  4. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <8f01093646b49f6330bb2d36761983fd829472b1
  5. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <aba0c94f61ec05315fa7815d21aefa4c87f6a9f4
  6. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <c04a2c1ca25b9b23104124d3b2d349d934e302de
  7. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <cf86704798c1b9c46fa59dfc2d662f57d1394d79
  8. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <d1a5b1964cef42727668ac0d8532dae4f8c19386
  9. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <d73960f0cf03ef1dc9e96ec7a20e538accc26d87
  10. Affected versionversion=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <f138be5d7f301fddad4e65ec66dfc3ceebf79be3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.9; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <32950b1907919be86a7a2697d6f93d57068b3865; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <44bd006d5c93f6a8f28b106cbae2428c5d0275b7; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <8f01093646b49f6330bb2d36761983fd829472b1; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <aba0c94f61ec05315fa7815d21aefa4c87f6a9f4; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <c04a2c1ca25b9b23104124d3b2d349d934e302de; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <cf86704798c1b9c46fa59dfc2d662f57d1394d79; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <d1a5b1964cef42727668ac0d8532dae4f8c19386; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <d73960f0cf03ef1dc9e96ec7a20e538accc26d87; version=d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238 <f138be5d7f301fddad4e65ec66dfc3ceebf79be3

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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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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