CVE-2025-38653

Kernel memory corruption via proc_lseek use-after-free

Published Aug 22, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel 6.x branches allows local users to trigger invalid memory access during module removal. proc_reg_open reads pde->proc_ops->proc_lseek directly even though module removal can free that operations table; the fix records proc_lseek availability in stable entry flags instead. Triggering the race requires CAP_SYS_MODULE in the initial user namespace, effectively root privilege, and no stable crash or code-execution outcome is publicly documented.

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 affected Linux kernel 6.x branches allows local users to trigger invalid memory access during module removal. proc_reg_open reads pde->proc_ops->proc_lseek directly even though module removal can free that operations table; the fix records proc_lseek availability in stable entry flags instead. Triggering the race requires CAP_SYS_MODULE in the initial user namespace, effectively root privilege, and no stable crash or code-execution outcome is publicly documented.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38653
Published
Aug 22, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

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=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <1fccbfbae1dd36198dc47feac696563244ad81d3
  2. Affected versionversion=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <33c778ea0bd0fa62ff590497e72562ff90f82b13
  3. Affected versionversion=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <c35b0feb80b48720dfbbf4e33759c7be3faaebb6
  4. Affected versionversion=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <d136502e04d8853a9aecb335d07bbefd7a1519a8
  5. Affected versionversion=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <fc1072d934f687e1221d685cf1a49a5068318f34
  6. Affected versionversion=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <ff7ec8dc1b646296f8d94c39339e8d3833d16c05
  7. Affected versionversion=6.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <1fccbfbae1dd36198dc47feac696563244ad81d3; version=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <33c778ea0bd0fa62ff590497e72562ff90f82b13; version=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <c35b0feb80b48720dfbbf4e33759c7be3faaebb6; version=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <d136502e04d8853a9aecb335d07bbefd7a1519a8; version=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <fc1072d934f687e1221d685cf1a49a5068318f34; version=3f61631d47f115b83c935d0039f95cb68b0c8ab7 <ff7ec8dc1b646296f8d94c39339e8d3833d16c05; version=6.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux Kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CanonicalCVSS: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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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