CVE-2025-38682

Kernel memory corruption via software-node double free

Published Sep 4, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Double free in the Linux kernel I2C core 6.16 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory while unregistering a device. i2c_unregister_device() unconditionally releases the primary firmware node, and device_remove_software_node() releases the same software node again. Reachability requires an I2C client with no ACPI or device-tree node but with a software node; teardown produces a refcount underflow and use-after-free.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Double free in the Linux kernel I2C core 6.16 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory while unregistering a device. i2c_unregister_device() unconditionally releases the primary firmware node, and device_remove_software_node() releases the same software node again. Reachability requires an I2C client with no ACPI or device-tree node but with a software node; teardown produces a refcount underflow and use-after-free.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38682
Published
Sep 4, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-415
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 4, 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=6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=df6d7277e5525d6cce63127dd93ebec4c6354fa0 <1c24e5fc0c7096e00c202a6a3e0c342c1afb47c2
  3. Affected versionversion=df6d7277e5525d6cce63127dd93ebec4c6354fa0 <ffe02f7c4e36090154646612e67d331832f92037

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.16; version=df6d7277e5525d6cce63127dd93ebec4c6354fa0 <1c24e5fc0c7096e00c202a6a3e0c342c1afb47c2; version=df6d7277e5525d6cce63127dd93ebec4c6354fa0 <ffe02f7c4e36090154646612e67d331832f92037

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

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

CWE-415Double Free

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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