CVE-2025-38085

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/hugetlb: fix huge_pmd_unshare() vs GUP-fast race huge_pmd_unshare() drops a reference on a page table that may have previously been shared across processes, potentially turning it into a normal page table used in another process in which unrelated VMAs can afterwards be installed. If this happens in the middle of a concurrent gup_fast(), gup_fast() could end up walking the page tables of another process. While I don't see any way in which that immediately leads to kernel memory corruption, it is really weird and unexpected. Fix it with an explicit broadcast IPI through tlb_remove_table_sync_one(), just like we do in khugepaged when removing page tables for a THP collapse.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2025-06-28
Last modified 2025-12-18
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

4.7

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-362

CVE-2025-38085 is a Race Condition vulnerability

What is Race Condition?

The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, creating unexpected states. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 2.6.20 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.95, 6.12.35, 6.15.4, 6.16 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 2.6.20
Fixed in
✓ 5.10.239 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.186 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.142 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.95 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.35 6.12.x ✓ 6.15.4 6.15.x ✓ 6.16

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-38085 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

7 patch commits total View all on NVD

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2025-38085?

    CVE-2025-38085 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 4.7 out of 10 , classified as a Race Condition flaw (CWE-362) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 2.6.20 onward and has been patched in 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142 and others. CVE-2025-38085 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38085?

    CVE-2025-38085 has a CVSS score of 4.7 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-38085?

    Yes — CVE-2025-38085 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 2.6.20 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2025-38085 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2025-38085 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is Race Condition (CWE-362)?

    The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, creating unexpected states. View CWE-362 on MITRE CWE →

Back to
All CVEs
View on
NVD / NIST