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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38242: mm: userfaultfd: fix race of userfaultfd_move and swap cache

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: userfaultfd: fix race of userfaultfd_move and swap cache This commit fixes two kinds of races, they may have different results: Barry reported a BUG_ON in commit c50f8e6053b0, we may see the same BUG_ON if the filemap lookup returned NULL and folio is added to swap cache after that. If another kind of race is triggered (folio changed after lookup) we may see RSS counter is corrupted: [ 406.893936] BUG: Bad rss-counter state mm:ffff0000c5a9ddc0 type:MM_ANONPAGES val:-1 [ 406.894071] BUG: Bad rss-counter state mm:ffff0000c5a9ddc0 type:MM_SHMEMPAGES val:1 Because the folio is being accounted to the wrong VMA. I'm not sure if there will be any data corruption though, seems no. The issues above are critical already. On seeing a swap entry PTE, userfaultfd_move does a lockless swap cache lookup, and tries to move the found folio to the faulting vma. Currently, it relies on checking the PTE value to ensure that the moved folio still belongs to the src swap entry and that no new folio has been added to the swap cache, which turns out to be unreliable. While working and reviewing the swap table series with Barry, following existing races are observed and reproduced [1]: In the example below, move_pages_pte is moving src_pte to dst_pte, where src_pte is a swap entry PTE holding swap entry S1, and S1 is not in the swap cache: CPU1 CPU2 userfaultfd_move move_pages_pte() entry = pte_to_swp_entry(orig_src_pte); // Here it got entry = S1 ... < interrupted> ... <swapin src_pte, alloc and use folio A> // folio A is a new allocated folio // and get installed into src_pte <frees swap entry S1> // src_pte now points to folio A, S1 // has swap count == 0, it can be freed // by folio_swap_swap or swap // allocator's reclaim. <try to swap out another folio B> // folio B is a folio in another VMA. <put folio B to swap cache using S1 > // S1 is freed, folio B can use it // for swap out with no problem. ... folio = filemap_get_folio(S1) // Got folio B here !!! ... < interrupted again> ... <swapin folio B and free S1> // Now S1 is free to be used again. <swapout src_pte & folio A using S1> // Now src_pte is a swap entry PTE // holding S1 again. folio_trylock(folio) move_swap_pte double_pt_lock is_pte_pages_stable // Check passed because src_pte == S1 folio_move_anon_rmap(...) // Moved invalid folio B here !!! The race window is very short and requires multiple collisions of multiple rare events, so it's very unlikely to happen, but with a deliberately constructed reproducer and increased time window, it can be reproduced easily. This can be fixed by checking if the folio returned by filemap is the valid swap cache folio after acquiring the folio lock. Another similar race is possible: filemap_get_folio may return NULL, but folio (A) could be swapped in and then swapped out again using the same swap entry after the lookup. In such a case, folio (A) may remain in the swap cache, so it must be moved too: CPU1 CPU2 userfaultfd_move move_pages_pte() entry = pte_to_swp_entry(orig_src_pte); // Here it got entry = S1, and S1 is not in swap cache folio = filemap_get ---truncated---

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A race in Linux memory management can associate a swapped memory page with the wrong memory region. Confirmed outcomes include kernel BUG conditions and corrupted memory-accounting counters, potentially destabilizing a host. Although the CVSS assessment includes severe confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, the supplied kernel description does not confirm actual data corruption.

Executive priority

Treat as an expedited kernel-maintenance issue, especially on shared compute, hosting, CI, or other systems executing untrusted local code. Immediate emergency response is not supported by the supplied exploitation evidence, but affected high-value or multi-tenant hosts should not wait for a distant routine patch cycle.

Technical view

During userfaultfd_move, a lockless swap-cache lookup can become stale while a swap entry is freed and reused. Subsequent PTE checks may accept an unrelated folio or miss one added after lookup, causing incorrect reverse mapping or accounting. The referenced fix validates the swap-cache folio after locking and handles the lookup-miss race under page-table locks.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running an affected kernel where a local, low-privileged process can exercise userfaultfd_move against swapped memory. The supplied affected-version data is ambiguous, so exact exposure must be established from kernel provenance, vendor advisories, and the referenced stable fixes rather than version numbers alone.

Exploitation context

The source describes a deliberately reproducible race requiring collisions among several uncommon events and an otherwise very short timing window. CVSS rates it local, low-privilege, low-complexity, without user interaction. It is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and no cited source establishes active exploitation or a public weaponized exploit.

Researcher notes

Confirmed symptoms are BUG_ON conditions and invalid RSS accounting caused by moving or accounting the wrong folio. The original description says data corruption was uncertain. Version metadata in the supplied bundle is insufficiently precise for reliable range construction; validate commit ancestry or distribution backports. Avoid equating the CVSS impact assumptions with demonstrated exploitation outcomes.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
  • Compare custom kernel source against the three cited stable commits.
  • Prioritize multi-user hosts and systems running untrusted local workloads.
  • Restrict local access or affected workloads until patching where operationally appropriate.

Validation and detection

  • Record the running kernel version, distribution build, and source provenance.
  • Check vendor guidance for applicability to the exact kernel build.
  • Confirm the applicable fix commit is present in source or vendor changelogs.
  • After updating, verify the patched kernel is currently running.
  • Assess whether local workloads can use userfaultfd with swap-backed memory.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2025-38242 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-38242Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxadef440691bab824e39c1b17382322d195e1fab0, adef440691bab824e39c1b17382322d195e1fab0, adef440691bab824e39c1b17382322d195e1fab0unaffected
LinuxLinux6.8, 0, 6.12.37, 6.15.5, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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