CVE-2025-38250: Bluetooth: hci_core: Fix use-after-free in vhci_flush()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Bluetooth: hci_core: Fix use-after-free in vhci_flush()
syzbot reported use-after-free in vhci_flush() without repro. [0]
From the splat, a thread close()d a vhci file descriptor while
its device was being used by iotcl() on another thread.
Once the last fd refcnt is released, vhci_release() calls
hci_unregister_dev(), hci_free_dev(), and kfree() for struct
vhci_data, which is set to hci_dev->dev->driver_data.
The problem is that there is no synchronisation after unlinking
hdev from hci_dev_list in hci_unregister_dev(). There might be
another thread still accessing the hdev which was fetched before
the unlink operation.
We can use SRCU for such synchronisation.
Let's run hci_dev_reset() under SRCU and wait for its completion
in hci_unregister_dev().
Another option would be to restore hci_dev->destruct(), which was
removed in commit 587ae086f6e4 ("Bluetooth: Remove unused
hci-destruct cb"). However, this would not be a good solution, as
we should not run hci_unregister_dev() while there are in-flight
ioctl() requests, which could lead to another data-race KCSAN splat.
Note that other drivers seem to have the same problem, for exmaple,
virtbt_remove().
[0]:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in skb_queue_empty_lockless include/linux/skbuff.h:1891 [inline]
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in skb_queue_purge_reason+0x99/0x360 net/core/skbuff.c:3937
Read of size 8 at addr ffff88807cb8d858 by task syz.1.219/6718
CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 6718 Comm: syz.1.219 Not tainted 6.16.0-rc1-syzkaller-00196-g08207f42d3ff #0 PREEMPT(full)
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 05/07/2025
Call Trace:
<TASK>
dump_stack_lvl+0x189/0x250 lib/dump_stack.c:120
print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:408 [inline]
print_report+0xd2/0x2b0 mm/kasan/report.c:521
kasan_report+0x118/0x150 mm/kasan/report.c:634
skb_queue_empty_lockless include/linux/skbuff.h:1891 [inline]
skb_queue_purge_reason+0x99/0x360 net/core/skbuff.c:3937
skb_queue_purge include/linux/skbuff.h:3368 [inline]
vhci_flush+0x44/0x50 drivers/bluetooth/hci_vhci.c:69
hci_dev_do_reset net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:552 [inline]
hci_dev_reset+0x420/0x5c0 net/bluetooth/hci_core.c:592
sock_do_ioctl+0xd9/0x300 net/socket.c:1190
sock_ioctl+0x576/0x790 net/socket.c:1311
vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:51 [inline]
__do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:907 [inline]
__se_sys_ioctl+0xf9/0x170 fs/ioctl.c:893
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0xfa/0x3b0 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
RIP: 0033:0x7fcf5b98e929
Code: ff ff c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 0f 1f 40 00 48 89 f8 48 89 f7 48 89 d6 48 89 ca 4d 89 c2 4d 89 c8 4c 8b 4c 24 08 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 c7 c1 a8 ff ff ff f7 d8 64 89 01 48
RSP: 002b:00007fcf5c7b9038 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000010
RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 00007fcf5bbb6160 RCX: 00007fcf5b98e929
RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 00000000400448cb RDI: 0000000000000009
RBP: 00007fcf5ba10b39 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000
R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 0000000000000000
R13: 0000000000000000 R14: 00007fcf5bbb6160 R15: 00007ffd6353d528
</TASK>
Allocated by task 6535:
kasan_save_stack mm/kasan/common.c:47 [inline]
kasan_save_track+0x3e/0x80 mm/kasan/common.c:68
poison_kmalloc_redzone mm/kasan/common.c:377 [inline]
__kasan_kmalloc+0x93/0xb0 mm/kasan/common.c:394
kasan_kmalloc include/linux/kasan.h:260 [inline]
__kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x230/0x3d0 mm/slub.c:4359
kmalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:905 [inline]
kzalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:1039 [inline]
vhci_open+0x57/0x360 drivers/bluetooth/hci_vhci.c:635
misc_open+0x2bc/0x330 drivers/char/misc.c:161
chrdev_open+0x4c9/0x5e0 fs/char_dev.c:414
do_dentry_open+0xdf0/0x1970 fs/open.c:964
vfs_open+0x3b/0x340 fs/open.c:1094
do_open fs/namei.c:3887 [inline]
path_openat+0x2ee5/0x3830 fs/name
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A race in the Linux Bluetooth virtual HCI path can leave one thread using memory after another thread frees it. A local, low-privileged attacker who can access the relevant interface could potentially crash the system or compromise confidentiality and integrity. The supplied evidence demonstrates the memory-safety failure, but not successful exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize affected multi-user, development, testing, and virtualization hosts where untrusted local users may reach virtual HCI. Treat internet-only servers without such local access as lower urgency, while still applying normal kernel updates. Escalate if vendor guidance confirms exposure in deployed distribution kernels.
Technical view
Concurrent close and ioctl activity can free vhci_data while hci_dev_reset() still reaches vhci_flush(), producing a slab use-after-free. The kernel fix applies SRCU synchronization around device reset and waits during device unregistration. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8, with local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running an affected kernel where virtual Bluetooth HCI functionality is present and reachable by a local user. The supplied affected-version data is unusual and incomplete for distribution kernels, so organizations should verify fixes by vendor package guidance or stable-kernel commit inclusion.
Exploitation context
The issue was reported by syzbot from a KASAN failure without a reproducer. The source bundle does not establish public exploitation, a working proof of concept, or attacks in the wild, and it states that the CVE is not in KEV. Practical exploitation remains uncertain.
Researcher notes
The observed path is vhci_release() through device unregistration and freeing, racing with ioctl-driven hci_dev_reset() and vhci_flush(). KASAN recorded an eight-byte read from freed slab memory. Stable fixes are referenced for multiple kernel lines. The bundle notes that other Bluetooth drivers may share the synchronization pattern, but does not assign them to this CVE.
Mitigation direction
Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable stable fix.
Reboot into the updated kernel after installation.
Until patched, restrict untrusted local access to virtual HCI functionality where operationally feasible.
Check distribution security guidance for package-specific fixed versions.
Validation and detection
Inventory running kernel versions on systems providing Bluetooth or virtual HCI functionality.
Confirm the applicable stable fix is included in each running kernel or vendor package.
Verify the system actually booted the updated kernel after maintenance.
Review virtual HCI device permissions and identify untrusted local users with access.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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