CVE-2025-38697

Kernel compromise via unchecked JFS tree index

Published Sep 4, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Improper input validation in Linux JFS allows local users to read or corrupt kernel memory and panic the system via a crafted filesystem. The dbAllocAG function derives ti from allocation-group metadata and uses it to index the dmapctl stree without checking ti against the tree's nleafs bound. Reachability requires a crafted JFS image to be mounted and a block-allocation operation to traverse the corrupted metadata; consequences include kernel-memory disclosure, filesystem corruption, and a kernel panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Linux JFS allows local users to read or corrupt kernel memory and panic the system via a crafted filesystem. The dbAllocAG function derives ti from allocation-group metadata and uses it to index the dmapctl stree without checking ti against the tree's nleafs bound. Reachability requires a crafted JFS image to be mounted and a block-allocation operation to traverse the corrupted metadata; consequences include kernel-memory disclosure, filesystem corruption, and a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38697
Published
Sep 4, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-20, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 4, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1467a75819e41341cd5ebd16faa2af1ca3c8f4fe
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <173cfd741ad7073640bfb7e2344c2a0ee005e769
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2dd05f09cc323018136a7ecdb3d1007be9ede27f
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <30e19a884c0b11f33821aacda7e72e914bec26ef
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <49ea46d9025aa1914b24ea957636cbe4367a7311
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5bdb9553fb134fd52ec208a8b378120670f6e784
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a4f199203f79ca9cd7355799ccb26800174ff093
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c214006856ff52a8ff17ed8da52d50601d54f9ce
  9. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c8ca21a2836993d7cb816668458e05e598574e55
  10. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <1467a75819e41341cd5ebd16faa2af1ca3c8f4fe; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <173cfd741ad7073640bfb7e2344c2a0ee005e769; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2dd05f09cc323018136a7ecdb3d1007be9ede27f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <30e19a884c0b11f33821aacda7e72e914bec26ef; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <49ea46d9025aa1914b24ea957636cbe4367a7311; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5bdb9553fb134fd52ec208a8b378120670f6e784; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a4f199203f79ca9cd7355799ccb26800174ff093; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c214006856ff52a8ff17ed8da52d50601d54f9ce; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c8ca21a2836993d7cb816668458e05e598574e55; version=2.6.12
Siemens · SIMATIC CN 4100version=0 <V5.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Siemens ProductCERTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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-20Improper Input Validation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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