Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux kernel flaw in the NTFS3 filesystem driver fails to ensure a filename fits within its directory entry. A local, low-privileged attacker may be able to expose sensitive information or crash affected systems. Risk is concentrated on systems that process NTFS filesystems through NTFS3, rather than broadly exposed network services.
Executive priority
Prioritize patching systems that routinely mount removable, uploaded, or otherwise untrusted NTFS content. This is high severity but not supported as an Internet-wide emergency or actively exploited threat. Systems without NTFS3 use are lower priority after exposure is verified.
Technical view
CVE-2025-38707 adds a missing bounds sanity check comparing filename length with NTFS directory-entry size. CVSS 3.1 rates it 7.1 with local, low-complexity, low-privilege access, no user interaction, and high confidentiality and availability impact. The supplied evidence does not identify a CWE or provide enough detail to characterize the exact memory-safety failure.
Likely exposure
Potentially exposed systems run an affected Linux kernel and enable or use the NTFS3 driver, especially when mounting NTFS media or images from less-trusted sources. The supplied affected-version metadata spans Linux 5.15 through 6.17 but is ambiguous about precise fixed boundaries; distribution backports must be checked.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector describes local, low-privilege exploitation without user interaction. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Exposure may still arise when an attacker can introduce or influence an NTFS filesystem processed by NTFS3.
Researcher notes
The record supplies seven stable-kernel fix commits but ambiguous affected-version formatting. Confirm ancestry or distribution backport status rather than relying solely on version strings. No CWE, proof-of-concept status, active-exploitation evidence, or detailed failure mode is supplied. Siemens and Debian references may clarify product-specific applicability.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the referenced NTFS3 filename sanity check.
- Check distribution advisories because kernel fixes are frequently backported without matching upstream version numbers.
- Disable or avoid NTFS3 where it is not operationally required.
- Restrict mounting of untrusted NTFS media and filesystem images until patched.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel and package versions across Linux systems.
- Identify hosts where NTFS3 is available, loaded, or used for mounted filesystems.
- Compare vendor package status with the referenced stable-kernel fixes and distribution advisories.
- Confirm patched kernels are running after installation, including following required reboots.
- Review logs for NTFS3 faults or unexpected kernel crashes, without treating their absence as proof of safety.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
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CVE-2025-38707 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H1.85.2LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bde58c1539f3ffddffc94d64007de16964e6b8ebCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f99eb9a641f4ef927d8724f4966dcfd1f0e9f835CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3572737a768dadea904ebc4eb34b6ed575bb72d9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ac47f738ddfc1957a33be163bc97ee8f78e85a6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b51642fc52d1c7243a9361555d5c4b24d7569d7eCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/27ee9a42b245efe6529e28b03453291a775cb3e4CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e841ecb139339602bc1853f5f09daa5d1ea920a2CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.htmlCVE reference, CVE
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-032379.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.