CVE-2025-38408 (GCVE-0-2025-38408)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2025-07-25 13:20 – Updated: 2026-08-05 12:01
VLAI
Title
genirq/irq_sim: Initialize work context pointers properly
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: genirq/irq_sim: Initialize work context pointers properly Initialize `ops` member's pointers properly by using kzalloc() instead of kmalloc() when allocating the simulation work context. Otherwise the pointers contain random content leading to invalid dereferencing.
Severity
7.8 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
Linux Linux Affected: 337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 , < 186df821de0f34490ed5fc0861243748b2483861 (git)
Affected: 337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 , < c71aa4bb528ae6f8fd7577a0a39e5a03c60b04fb (git)
Affected: 337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 , < ec3656a8cb428d763def32bc2fa695f94be23629 (git)
Affected: 337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 , < 19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a (git)
Affected: 337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 , < 7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c (git)
Affected: 337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1 , < 8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819 (git)
Create a notification for this product.
Linux Linux Affected: 5.8
Unaffected: 0 , < 5.8 (semver)
Unaffected: 5.15.199 , ≤ 5.15.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.1.162 , ≤ 6.1.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.6.120 , ≤ 6.6.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.12.37 , ≤ 6.12.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.15.6 , ≤ 6.15.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.16 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)
Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "kernel/irq/irq_sim.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "186df821de0f34490ed5fc0861243748b2483861",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "c71aa4bb528ae6f8fd7577a0a39e5a03c60b04fb",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "ec3656a8cb428d763def32bc2fa695f94be23629",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1",
              "versionType": "git"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "defaultStatus": "affected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "kernel/irq/irq_sim.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "5.8"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "5.8",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "5.15.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "5.15.199",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.1.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.1.162",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.6.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.6.120",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.12.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.12.37",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.15.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.15.6",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.16",
              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "cpeApplicability": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "5.15.199",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "5.8",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.1.162",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "5.8",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.6.120",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "5.8",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.12.37",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "5.8",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.15.6",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "5.8",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.16",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "5.8",
                  "vulnerable": true
                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\ngenirq/irq_sim: Initialize work context pointers properly\n\nInitialize `ops` member\u0027s pointers properly by using kzalloc() instead of\nkmalloc() when allocating the simulation work context. Otherwise the\npointers contain random content leading to invalid dereferencing."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 7.8,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "AV:L - The vulnerable code is reached through a local ioctl on the GPIO character device (/dev/gpiochipN) exposed by the gpio-mockup simulator, or via the local iio-dummy device; there is no network-facing path to irq_sim.\nAC:L - A single GPIO_V2_GET_LINE_IOCTL with an edge-detect flag deterministically drives request_threaded_irq() into irq_sim_request_resources(), which unconditionally tests and calls the uninitialized ops pointer on every request; the attacker can additionally groom the kmalloc-96 slab to shape the stale contents.\nPR:L - An unprivileged local account with access to the GPIO chardev \u2014 routinely granted via the \"gpio\" group udev rule on embedded, IoT and automation systems \u2014 can request an edge-triggered line and reach the wild call; no root or capability is required for the triggering ioctl.\nUI:N - The attacker triggers the faulty indirect call entirely through their own ioctl/close sequence; no action by another user or administrator is needed.\nS:U - The uninitialized function-pointer call executes in kernel context on the same host and does not cross a virtualization, IOMMU, or sandbox authority boundary.\nC:H - Branching to an attacker-groomable stale heap value is a direct control-flow hijack primitive that can be leveraged into arbitrary kernel memory disclosure; the call also leaks the state of recycled slab memory into control flow.\nI:H - Calling through an uninitialized function pointer whose backing slab object can be sprayed with attacker-controlled data yields instruction-pointer control and hence arbitrary kernel code execution and memory modification.\nA:H - Even without successful grooming, the indirect branch to stale garbage causes an immediate kernel oops or CFI panic, and it can be triggered repeatedly."
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T12:01:39.572Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/186df821de0f34490ed5fc0861243748b2483861"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c71aa4bb528ae6f8fd7577a0a39e5a03c60b04fb"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec3656a8cb428d763def32bc2fa695f94be23629"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819"
        }
      ],
      "title": "genirq/irq_sim: Initialize work context pointers properly",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2025-38408",
    "datePublished": "2025-07-25T13:20:13.253Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-04-16T04:51:24.013Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T12:01:39.572Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2025-38408",
      "date": "2026-08-07",
      "epss": "0.00166",
      "percentile": "0.06258"
    },
    "microsoft_vex": {
      "current_release_date": "2026-03-31T14:56:16.000Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2025-38408",
      "id": "msrc_CVE-2025-38408",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z",
      "product_status:known_affected": "3",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "1",
      "source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "genirq/irq_sim: Initialize work context pointers properly",
      "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2025/msrc_cve-2025-38408.json",
      "version": "5"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2025-38408\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"published\":\"2025-07-25T14:15:32.440\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-07-30T06:23:12.640\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Modified\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\\n\\ngenirq/irq_sim: Initialize work context pointers properly\\n\\nInitialize `ops` member\u0027s pointers properly by using kzalloc() instead of\\nkmalloc() when allocating the simulation work context. Otherwise the\\npointers contain random content leading to invalid dereferencing.\"},{\"lang\":\"es\",\"value\":\"En el kernel de Linux, se ha resuelto la siguiente vulnerabilidad: genirq/irq_sim: Inicializar correctamente los punteros del contexto de trabajo. Inicializar correctamente los punteros del miembro `ops` usando kzalloc() en lugar de kmalloc() al asignar el contexto de trabajo de simulaci\u00f3n. De lo contrario, los punteros contienen contenido aleatorio, lo que provoca una desreferenciaci\u00f3n no v\u00e1lida.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"programFiles\":[\"kernel/irq/irq_sim.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1\",\"lessThan\":\"186df821de0f34490ed5fc0861243748b2483861\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1\",\"lessThan\":\"c71aa4bb528ae6f8fd7577a0a39e5a03c60b04fb\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1\",\"lessThan\":\"ec3656a8cb428d763def32bc2fa695f94be23629\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1\",\"lessThan\":\"19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1\",\"lessThan\":\"7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"337cbeb2c13eb4cab84f576fd402d7ae4ed31ae1\",\"lessThan\":\"8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]},{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"affected\",\"programFiles\":[\"kernel/irq/irq_sim.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"5.8\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"0\",\"lessThan\":\"5.8\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"5.15.199\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"5.15.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.1.162\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.1.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.6.120\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.6.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.12.37\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.12.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.15.6\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.15.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.16\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"*\",\"versionType\":\"original_commit_for_fix\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\",\"baseScore\":7.8,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"LOCAL\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":1.8,\"impactScore\":5.9},{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H\",\"baseScore\":5.5,\"baseSeverity\":\"MEDIUM\",\"attackVector\":\"LOCAL\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"integrityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":1.8,\"impactScore\":3.6}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-476\"}]}],\"configurations\":[{\"nodes\":[{\"operator\":\"OR\",\"negate\":false,\"cpeMatch\":[{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"5.8\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"6.12.37\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"0A1AA99A-84C5-4F7F-B9AD-5A171DA2B7A0\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"6.13\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"6.15.6\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"6E0BB4E0-44BC-4645-83A8-6EA232CE624C\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"6D4894DB-CCFE-4602-B1BF-3960B2E19A01\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"09709862-E348-4378-8632-5A7813EDDC86\"}]}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/186df821de0f34490ed5fc0861243748b2483861\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19bd7597858dd15802c1d99fcc38e528f469080a\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f73d1def72532bac4d55ea8838f457a6bed955c\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a2277a3c9e4cc5398f80821afe7ecbe9bdf2819\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c71aa4bb528ae6f8fd7577a0a39e5a03c60b04fb\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec3656a8cb428d763def32bc2fa695f94be23629\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-07-30T09:04:16+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2025-38408",
      "id": "CVE-2025-38408",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-07-25T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "184",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "90",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kernel: Linux kernel: Denial of Service via improper pointer initialization",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2025/cve-2025-38408.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "suse_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-07-25T00:46:41Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2025-38408",
      "id": "CVE-2025-38408",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-07-28T23:23:37Z",
      "product_status:first_fixed": "2",
      "product_status:known_affected": "521",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "156",
      "product_status:recommended": "508",
      "source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
      "status": "interim",
      "title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2025-38408",
      "url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2025-38408.json",
      "version": "45"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.