CVE-2025-39961

Local kernel compromise via AMD IOMMU race

Published Oct 9, 2025 · Updated Oct 9, 2025

Race condition in the AMD IOMMU page-table code in Linux allows local users to read or overwrite host kernel memory. iommu_v1_unmap_pages() calls fetch_pte(), which reads pgtable->root and pgtable->mode without synchronization while increase_address_space() updates them, so a torn pair can leave a stale DMA translation. The path requires an AMD x86_64 host using v1 IOMMU page tables and concurrent high-IOVA mapping and unmapping; successful exploitation can escape device isolation or crash the kernel.

CVSS severity4.7
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

Race condition in the AMD IOMMU page-table code in Linux allows local users to read or overwrite host kernel memory. iommu_v1_unmap_pages() calls fetch_pte(), which reads pgtable->root and pgtable->mode without synchronization while increase_address_space() updates them, so a torn pair can leave a stale DMA translation. The path requires an AMD x86_64 host using v1 IOMMU page tables and concurrent high-IOVA mapping and unmapping; successful exploitation can escape device isolation or crash the kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-39961
Published
Oct 9, 2025
Updated
Oct 9, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 9, 2025Record 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=0d50f7b1e8c80a8c20db5049e269468c059b0378
  2. Affected versionversion=5.3
  3. Affected versionversion=6fb92f18555a7b8e085267d513612dc0ff9a5360
  4. Affected versionversion=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <075abf0b1a958acfbea2435003d228e738e90346
  5. Affected versionversion=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <1e56310b40fd2e7e0b9493da9ff488af145bdd0c
  6. Affected versionversion=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <7d462bdecb7d9c32934dab44aaeb7ea7d73a27a2
  7. Affected versionversion=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <cd92c8ab336c3a633d46e6f35ebcd3509ae7db3b
  8. Affected versionversion=785ca708a908b9c596ede852470ba28b8dc3e40b
  9. Affected versionversion=b15bf74405faa1a65025eb8a6eb337e140e5250a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0d50f7b1e8c80a8c20db5049e269468c059b0378; version=5.3; version=6fb92f18555a7b8e085267d513612dc0ff9a5360; version=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <075abf0b1a958acfbea2435003d228e738e90346; version=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <1e56310b40fd2e7e0b9493da9ff488af145bdd0c; version=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <7d462bdecb7d9c32934dab44aaeb7ea7d73a27a2; version=754265bcab78a9014f0f99cd35e0d610fcd7dfa7 <cd92c8ab336c3a633d46e6f35ebcd3509ae7db3b; version=785ca708a908b9c596ede852470ba28b8dc3e40b; version=b15bf74405faa1a65025eb8a6eb337e140e5250a

Published CVSS scores

4.7CanonicalCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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
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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