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CVE Record

CVE-2025-38554: mm: fix a UAF when vma->mm is freed after vma->vm_refcnt got dropped

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix a UAF when vma->mm is freed after vma->vm_refcnt got dropped By inducing delays in the right places, Jann Horn created a reproducer for a hard to hit UAF issue that became possible after VMAs were allowed to be recycled by adding SLAB_TYPESAFE_BY_RCU to their cache. Race description is borrowed from Jann's discovery report: lock_vma_under_rcu() looks up a VMA locklessly with mas_walk() under rcu_read_lock(). At that point, the VMA may be concurrently freed, and it can be recycled by another process. vma_start_read() then increments the vma->vm_refcnt (if it is in an acceptable range), and if this succeeds, vma_start_read() can return a recycled VMA. In this scenario where the VMA has been recycled, lock_vma_under_rcu() will then detect the mismatching ->vm_mm pointer and drop the VMA through vma_end_read(), which calls vma_refcount_put(). vma_refcount_put() drops the refcount and then calls rcuwait_wake_up() using a copy of vma->vm_mm. This is wrong: It implicitly assumes that the caller is keeping the VMA's mm alive, but in this scenario the caller has no relation to the VMA's mm, so the rcuwait_wake_up() can cause UAF. The diagram depicting the race: T1 T2 T3 == == == lock_vma_under_rcu mas_walk <VMA gets removed from mm> mmap <the same VMA is reallocated> vma_start_read __refcount_inc_not_zero_limited_acquire munmap __vma_enter_locked refcount_add_not_zero vma_end_read vma_refcount_put __refcount_dec_and_test rcuwait_wait_event <finish operation> rcuwait_wake_up [UAF] Note that rcuwait_wait_event() in T3 does not block because refcount was already dropped by T1. At this point T3 can exit and free the mm causing UAF in T1. To avoid this we move vma->vm_mm verification into vma_start_read() and grab vma->vm_mm to stabilize it before vma_refcount_put() operation. [surenb@google.com: v3]

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 access already-freed data. A local, low-privileged user may be able to crash the system or potentially affect confidentiality and integrity. Exploitation requires local code execution; the supplied evidence does not establish remote or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel maintenance issue, especially on shared or multi-user Linux systems. It is not evidenced as remotely exploitable or actively exploited, so prioritize based on local-user exposure and patch availability rather than emergency internet-edge response.

Technical view

A recycled virtual memory area can pass refcount acquisition before its vm_mm mismatch is detected. Releasing that reference may call rcuwait_wake_up after the associated memory-management structure has been freed, causing a use-after-free. The fix validates and stabilizes vm_mm inside vma_start_read before the reference is released.

Likely exposure

Systems running affected Linux kernel branches are potentially exposed when untrusted or compromised local users can execute code. The supplied version data identifies 6.15, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, and 6.17, but its range semantics are unclear; verify distribution backports and running-kernel status.

Exploitation context

A researcher produced the race by deliberately inducing timing delays, confirming reachability. CVSS 7.8 describes local access, low privileges, low complexity, no user interaction, and potentially high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The bundle reports no CISA KEV listing and provides no evidence of active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The vulnerable path spans lock_vma_under_rcu, vma_start_read, vma_end_read, vma_refcount_put, and rcuwait_wake_up. SLAB_TYPESAFE_BY_RCU recycling enables a VMA from another process to be observed. The supplied record names three stable commits; affected-version boundaries remain insufficiently clear for version-only detection.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
  • Check distribution security guidance because vendors may backport fixes without changing expected upstream version numbers.
  • Restrict local code execution by untrusted users until affected systems are patched.
  • Prioritize shared or multi-user systems where low-privileged users can execute native workloads.

Validation and detection

  • Record the running kernel version on every Linux host, not merely the installed package version.
  • Confirm through vendor metadata that the running kernel includes the relevant upstream fix or backport.
  • Reboot after updating when required, then verify the corrected kernel is active.
  • Review fleet inventory for shared systems permitting low-privileged local code execution.
Prepared
Confidence
high
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-2025-38554 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-2025-38554Attack 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
LinuxLinux3104138517fc66aad21f4a2487bb572e9fc2e3ec, 3104138517fc66aad21f4a2487bb572e9fc2e3ec, 3104138517fc66aad21f4a2487bb572e9fc2e3ecunaffected
LinuxLinux6.15, 0, 6.15.10, 6.16.1, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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