Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-38704)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2025-38704). 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:
rcu/nocb: Fix possible invalid rdp's->nocb_cb_kthread pointer access
In the preparation stage of CPU online, if the corresponding
the rdp's->nocb_cb_kthread does not exist, will be created,
there is a situation where the rdp's rcuop kthreads creation fails,
and then de-offload this CPU's rdp, does not assign this CPU's
rdp->nocb_cb_kthread pointer, but this rdp's->nocb_gp_rdp and
rdp's->rdp_gp->nocb_gp_kthread is still valid.
This will cause the subsequent re-offload operation of this offline
CPU, which will pass the conditional check and the kthread_unpark()
will access invalid rdp's->nocb_cb_kthread pointer.
This commit therefore use rdp's->nocb_gp_kthread instead of
rdp_gp's->nocb_gp_kthread for safety check.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
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-2025-38704 has been found in Linux kernel.
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-2025-38704" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2025-38704 (Linux kernel) — CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / 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.
A vulnerability (unclassified) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
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-2025-38704 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.1.167-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2025-38704 linux Fixed in: 6.1.170-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38704 linux
References
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- advisory github.com
- 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 cert-portal.siemens.com
- web cert-portal.siemens.com
- web github.com
- web cert-portal.siemens.com
- web cert-portal.siemens.com