Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-38478)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-38478). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. Exploitable via MIN_SAMPLES.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
comedi: Fix initialization of data for instructions that write to subdevice
Some Comedi subdevice instruction handlers are known to access
instruction data elements beyond the first insn->n elements in some
cases. The do_insn_ioctl() and do_insnlist_ioctl() functions
allocate at least MIN_SAMPLES (16) data elements to deal with this,
but they do not initialize all of that. For Comedi instruction codes
that write to the subdevice, the first insn->n data elements are
copied from user-space, but the remaining elements are left
uninitialized. That could be a problem if the subdevice instruction
handler reads the uninitialized data. Ensure that the first
MIN_SAMPLES elements are initialized before calling these instruction
handlers, filling the uncopied elements with 0. For
do_insnlist_ioctl(), the same data buffer elements are used for
handling a list of instructions, so ensure the first MIN_SAMPLES
elements are initialized for each instruction that writes to the
subdevice.
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-2025-38478 has been found in Linux kernel.
Attackers can target a specific entry point like MIN_SAMPLES over the network to misuse the product.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2025-38478" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2025-38478 (Linux kernel) — CWE-908 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Attack surface: MIN_SAMPLES
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.
A vulnerability (CWE-908) exists in Linux kernel. Attackers reach the vulnerable code path via MIN_SAMPLES.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel. Attack surface: MIN_SAMPLES.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). 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-2025-38478 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.1.147-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38478 linux Fixed in: 5.10.244-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38478 linux
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web lists.debian.org
- web lists.debian.org