Out-of-Bounds Read in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-38139)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-38139). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
netfs: Fix oops in write-retry from mis-resetting the subreq iterator
Fix the resetting of the subrequest iterator in netfs_retry_write_stream()
to use the iterator-reset function as the iterator may have been shortened
by a previous retry. In such a case, the amount of data to be written by
the subrequest is not "subreq->len" but "subreq->len -
subreq->transferred".
Without this, KASAN may see an error in iov_iter_revert():
BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in iov_iter_revert lib/iov_iter.c:633 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in iov_iter_revert+0x443/0x5a0 lib/iov_iter.c:611
Read of size 4 at addr ffff88802912a0b8 by task kworker/u32:7/1147
CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 1147 Comm: kworker/u32:7 Not tainted 6.15.0-rc6-syzkaller-00052-g9f35e33144ae #0 PREEMPT(full)
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2~bpo12+1 04/01/2014
Workqueue: events_unbound netfs_write_collection_worker
Call Trace:
__dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:94 [inline]
dump_stack_lvl+0x116/0x1f0 lib/dump_stack.c:120
print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:408 [inline]
print_report+0xc3/0x670 mm/kasan/report.c:521
kasan_report+0xe0/0x110 mm/kasan/report.c:634
iov_iter_revert lib/iov_iter.c:633 [inline]
iov_iter_revert+0x443/0x5a0 lib/iov_iter.c:611
netfs_retry_write_stream fs/netfs/write_retry.c:44 [inline]
netfs_retry_writes+0x166d/0x1a50 fs/ne…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-38139 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 9.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2025-38139" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2025-38139 (Linux kernel) — CWE-125 / CVSS v3 9.8
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- BellSoft Alpaquita BELL-CVE-2025-38139 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.12.41-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38139 linux Fixed in: 6.12.37-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38139 linux-hwe-edge
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org