Linux: Out-of-bounds Read
CVE-2025-38204 is a high-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 81af4b34fd72d390d7f237c6a545cc6d09707956, bfa4655d28f338e68d345aed80d19be7999bbce2, 44618bee303bed151ef3a525ff79fbd7689593b5 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.24% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 81af4b34fd72d390d7f237c6a545cc6d09707956 or bfa4655d28f338e68d345aed80d19be7999bbce2 or 44618bee303bed151ef3a525ff79fbd7689593b5 or 5730e2da0655336fed6aa3c25892e69e2ba5cb76, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 5.4.295 or 5.10.239 or 5.15.186 or 6.15.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, 81af4b34fd72d390d7f237c6a545cc6d09707956; 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, bfa4655d28f338e68d345aed80d19be7999bbce2; 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, 44618bee303bed151ef3a525ff79fbd7689593b5; 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, 5730e2da0655336fed6aa3c25892e69e2ba5cb76; 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, c8733634978086b41255695d993cec3017a23a27; 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, 2ec34dc7094b14149ce091c77aff43a45d255518; 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, c8399564a58fb6ea2ff21a6fd278417943cb51a5; 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 up to, but not including, 5dff41a86377563f7a2b968aae00d25b4ceb37c9; and 1 more ranges | 81af4b34fd72d390d7f237c6a545cc6d09707956, bfa4655d28f338e68d345aed80d19be7999bbce2, 44618bee303bed151ef3a525ff79fbd7689593b5, 5730e2da0655336fed6aa3c25892e69e2ba5cb76, c8733634978086b41255695d993cec3017a23a27, 2ec34dc7094b14149ce091c77aff43a45d255518 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | before 5.4.295; 5.5 up to, but not including, 5.10.239; 5.11 up to, but not including, 5.15.186; 5.16 up to, but not including, 6.15.4 | 5.4.295, 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.15.4 |
| Debian | Debian Linux | 11.0 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | NVD |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: jfs: fix array-index-out-of-bounds read in add_missing_indices stbl is s8 but it must contain offsets into slot which can go from 0 to 127. Added a bound check for that error and return -EIO if the check fails. Also make jfs_readdir return with error if add_missing_indices returns with an error.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read
The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/44618bee303bed151ef3a525ff79fbd7689593b5
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5dff41a86377563f7a2b968aae00d25b4ceb37c9
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/81af4b34fd72d390d7f237c6a545cc6d09707956
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bfa4655d28f338e68d345aed80d19be7999bbce2
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8399564a58fb6ea2ff21a6fd278417943cb51a5
Third-party and government advisories
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00007.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
Other references
Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.