CVE-2025-38486
MediumIn the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: soundwire: Revert "soundwire: qcom: Add set_channel_map api support" This reverts commit 7796c97df6b1b2206681a07f3c80f6023a6593d5. This patch broke Dragonboard 845c (sdm845). I see: Unexpected kernel BRK exception at EL1 Internal error: BRK handler: 00000000f20003e8 [#1] SMP pc : qcom_swrm_set_channel_map+0x7c/0x80 [soundwire_qcom] lr : snd_soc_dai_set_channel_map+0x34/0x78 Call trace: qcom_swrm_set_channel_map+0x7c/0x80 [soundwire_qcom] (P) sdm845_dai_init+0x18c/0x2e0 [snd_soc_sdm845] snd_soc_link_init+0x28/0x6c snd_soc_bind_card+0x5f4/0xb0c snd_soc_register_card+0x148/0x1a4 devm_snd_soc_register_card+0x50/0xb0 sdm845_snd_platform_probe+0x124/0x148 [snd_soc_sdm845] platform_probe+0x6c/0xd0 really_probe+0xc0/0x2a4 __driver_probe_device+0x7c/0x130 driver_probe_device+0x40/0x118 __device_attach_driver+0xc4/0x108 bus_for_each_drv+0x8c/0xf0 __device_attach+0xa4/0x198 device_initial_probe+0x18/0x28 bus_probe_device+0xb8/0xbc deferred_probe_work_func+0xac/0xfc process_one_work+0x244/0x658 worker_thread+0x1b4/0x360 kthread+0x148/0x228 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 Kernel panic - not syncing: BRK handler: Fatal exception Dan has also reported following issues with the original patch https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/ Bug #1: The zeroeth element of ctrl->pconfig[] is supposed to be unused. We start counting at 1. However this code sets ctrl->pconfig[0].ch_mask = 128. Bug #2: There are SLIM_MAX_TX_PORTS (16) elements in tx_ch[] array but only QCOM_SDW_MAX_PORTS + 1 (15) in the ctrl->pconfig[] array so it corrupts memory like Yongqin Liu pointed out. Bug 3: Like Jie Gan pointed out, it erases all the tx information with the rx information.
CVSS 3.1 score
5.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
6.15
and later are affected. Fixed in
6.15.8,
6.16
and their respective stable series.
References
The following references provide additional information about CVE-2025-38486 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/207cea8b72fcbdf4e6db178e54186ed4f1514b3c
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/834bce6a715ae9a9c4dce7892454a19adf22b013
Frequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2025-38486?
CVE-2025-38486 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.15 onward and has been patched in 6.15.8 and 6.16. CVE-2025-38486 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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What is the CVSS score for CVE-2025-38486?
CVE-2025-38486 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. -
Is there a patch available for CVE-2025-38486?
Yes — CVE-2025-38486 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.15.8 and 6.16. If you are running Linux kernel 6.15 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
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Is CVE-2025-38486 actively exploited?
No — CVE-2025-38486 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.