CVE-2025-38720

System hang via repeated rtnl lock acquisition

Published Sep 4, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

Improper locking in the hibmcge driver allows local users with CAP_SYS_ADMIN to hang affected Linux kernels by resetting a PCI bus. In reset_prepare(), each hibmcge device on the bus acquires the same rtnl_lock, so the second device waits forever during the reset traversal. Reaching the fault requires two hibmcge devices on one bus and CAP_SYS_ADMIN access to the reset_subordinate sysfs interface; the resulting deadlock makes the system unresponsive.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper locking in the hibmcge driver allows local users with CAP_SYS_ADMIN to hang affected Linux kernels by resetting a PCI bus. In reset_prepare(), each hibmcge device on the bus acquires the same rtnl_lock, so the second device waits forever during the reset traversal. Reaching the fault requires two hibmcge devices on one bus and CAP_SYS_ADMIN access to the reset_subordinate sysfs interface; the resulting deadlock makes the system unresponsive.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-38720
Published
Sep 4, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-667, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

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=3f5a61f6d504f55ed1a36cce044d5123d508721f <1343a8994ca7dba78f5dd818e89d68331c21c35d
  2. Affected versionversion=3f5a61f6d504f55ed1a36cce044d5123d508721f <c875503a9b9082928d7d3fc60b5400d16fbfae4e
  3. Affected versionversion=3f5a61f6d504f55ed1a36cce044d5123d508721f <d85a6346fd6f595c4914205762d0cdf35c004a5e
  4. Affected versionversion=6.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3f5a61f6d504f55ed1a36cce044d5123d508721f <1343a8994ca7dba78f5dd818e89d68331c21c35d; version=3f5a61f6d504f55ed1a36cce044d5123d508721f <c875503a9b9082928d7d3fc60b5400d16fbfae4e; version=3f5a61f6d504f55ed1a36cce044d5123d508721f <d85a6346fd6f595c4914205762d0cdf35c004a5e; version=6.14

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-667Improper Locking
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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