LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2025-38276: fs/dax: Fix "don't skip locked entries when scanning entries"

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/dax: Fix "don't skip locked entries when scanning entries" Commit 6be3e21d25ca ("fs/dax: don't skip locked entries when scanning entries") introduced a new function, wait_entry_unlocked_exclusive(), which waits for the current entry to become unlocked without advancing the XArray iterator state. Waiting for the entry to become unlocked requires dropping the XArray lock. This requires calling xas_pause() prior to dropping the lock which leaves the xas in a suitable state for the next iteration. However this has the side-effect of advancing the xas state to the next index. Normally this isn't an issue because xas_for_each() contains code to detect this state and thus avoid advancing the index a second time on the next loop iteration. However both callers of and wait_entry_unlocked_exclusive() itself subsequently use the xas state to reload the entry. As xas_pause() updated the state to the next index this will cause the current entry which is being waited on to be skipped. This caused the following warning to fire intermittently when running xftest generic/068 on an XFS filesystem with FS DAX enabled: [ 35.067397] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 35.068229] WARNING: CPU: 21 PID: 1640 at mm/truncate.c:89 truncate_folio_batch_exceptionals+0xd8/0x1e0 [ 35.069717] Modules linked in: nd_pmem dax_pmem nd_btt nd_e820 libnvdimm [ 35.071006] CPU: 21 UID: 0 PID: 1640 Comm: fstest Not tainted 6.15.0-rc7+ #77 PREEMPT(voluntary) [ 35.072613] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS rel-1.16.3-0-ga6ed6b701f0a-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/204 [ 35.074845] RIP: 0010:truncate_folio_batch_exceptionals+0xd8/0x1e0 [ 35.075962] Code: a1 00 00 00 f6 47 0d 20 0f 84 97 00 00 00 4c 63 e8 41 39 c4 7f 0b eb 61 49 83 c5 01 45 39 ec 7e 58 42 f68 [ 35.079522] RSP: 0018:ffffb04e426c7850 EFLAGS: 00010202 [ 35.080359] RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff9d21e3481908 RCX: ffffb04e426c77f4 [ 35.081477] RDX: ffffb04e426c79e8 RSI: ffffb04e426c79e0 RDI: ffff9d21e34816e8 [ 35.082590] RBP: ffffb04e426c79e0 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000003 [ 35.083733] R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 822b53c0f7a49868 R12: 000000000000001f [ 35.084850] R13: 0000000000000000 R14: ffffb04e426c78e8 R15: fffffffffffffffe [ 35.085953] FS: 00007f9134c87740(0000) GS:ffff9d22abba0000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [ 35.087346] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [ 35.088244] CR2: 00007f9134c86000 CR3: 000000040afff000 CR4: 00000000000006f0 [ 35.089354] Call Trace: [ 35.089749] <TASK> [ 35.090168] truncate_inode_pages_range+0xfc/0x4d0 [ 35.091078] truncate_pagecache+0x47/0x60 [ 35.091735] xfs_setattr_size+0xc7/0x3e0 [ 35.092648] xfs_vn_setattr+0x1ea/0x270 [ 35.093437] notify_change+0x1f4/0x510 [ 35.094219] ? do_truncate+0x97/0xe0 [ 35.094879] do_truncate+0x97/0xe0 [ 35.095640] path_openat+0xabd/0xca0 [ 35.096278] do_filp_open+0xd7/0x190 [ 35.096860] do_sys_openat2+0x8a/0xe0 [ 35.097459] __x64_sys_openat+0x6d/0xa0 [ 35.098076] do_syscall_64+0xbb/0x1d0 [ 35.098647] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f [ 35.099444] RIP: 0033:0x7f9134d81fc1 [ 35.100033] Code: 75 57 89 f0 25 00 00 41 00 3d 00 00 41 00 74 49 80 3d 2a 26 0e 00 00 74 6d 89 da 48 89 ee bf 9c ff ff ff5 [ 35.102993] RSP: 002b:00007ffcd41e0d10 EFLAGS: 00000202 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000101 [ 35.104263] RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000242 RCX: 00007f9134d81fc1 [ 35.105452] RDX: 0000000000000242 RSI: 00007ffcd41e1200 RDI: 00000000ffffff9c [ 35.106663] RBP: 00007ffcd41e1200 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000064 [ 35.107923] R10: 00000000000001a4 R11: 0000000000000202 R12: 0000000000000066 [ 35.109112] R13: 0000000000100000 R14: 0000000000100000 R15: 0000000000000400 [ 35.110357] </TASK> [ 35.110769] irq event stamp: 8415587 [ 35.111486] hardirqs last enabled at (8415599): [<ffffffff8d74b562>] __up_console_se ---truncated---

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel bug can skip a locked filesystem entry during DAX processing, potentially corrupting data, altering system state, or causing disruption. Exploitation requires local access and is most relevant to systems using filesystem DAX, including the reported XFS configuration. The supplied CVSS score is 7.8 (high).

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue for systems using FS DAX because the supplied assessment indicates potentially severe data and availability consequences. Patch those systems promptly after compatibility testing. For environments without FS DAX, confirm non-exposure and retain normal prioritized kernel maintenance.

Technical view

Calling xas_pause() while waiting for a locked DAX entry advances the XArray iterator. Subsequent reloads can therefore skip the original entry. The defect produced intermittent kernel warnings during XFS generic/068 testing with filesystem DAX enabled. The supplied vector indicates local, low-privilege exploitation without user interaction and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.

Likely exposure

Exposure is concentrated in affected Linux kernels using filesystem DAX. The source identifies versions 6.15 through 6.15.3 and 6.16 as affected, but exact distribution backport status is not provided. Systems without FS DAX are less likely to reach the reported path.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes a local attack requiring low privileges and no user interaction. The supplied record is not in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. The demonstrated symptom is an intermittent kernel warning during filesystem testing; practical exploitation details remain unconfirmed.

Researcher notes

The affected-version presentation is incomplete for distribution kernels and lists commit lineage alongside releases. Two stable fixes are referenced, but the bundle does not map each fix to a specific release branch. Researchers should inspect the upstream diffs and vendor backports when establishing exposure. No active exploitation evidence or precise security outcome beyond the CVSS impacts is supplied.

Mitigation direction

  • Prioritize affected hosts using filesystem DAX, especially XFS configurations.
  • Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable upstream stable fix.
  • Confirm distribution backport status rather than relying only on displayed kernel versions.
  • Restrict unnecessary local access until affected DAX systems are remediated.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernels and compare them with the source-listed affected versions.
  • Identify mounted filesystems using DAX and prioritize exposed production workloads.
  • Verify the installed kernel includes the applicable fix commit or vendor backport.
  • Review kernel logs for warnings involving truncate_folio_batch_exceptionals or DAX truncation.
  • Run vendor-approved filesystem and DAX regression tests after remediation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

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

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-38276 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
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
3Source 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-2025-38276Attack 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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux6be3e21d25ca2dbb7ca4f3f7db808a3e1a944bd1, 6be3e21d25ca2dbb7ca4f3f7db808a3e1a944bd1unaffected
LinuxLinux6.15, 0, 6.15.3, 6.16affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.