Linux: Out-of-bounds Read
CVE-2025-38446 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 fcee75daecc5234ee3482d8cf3518bf021d8a0a5, a956daad67cec454ee985e103e167711fab5b9b8, aacc875a448d363332b9df0621dde6d3a225ea9f 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 0.18% 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 fcee75daecc5234ee3482d8cf3518bf021d8a0a5 or a956daad67cec454ee985e103e167711fab5b9b8 or aacc875a448d363332b9df0621dde6d3a225ea9f, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.12.39 or 6.15.7, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5224b189462ff70df328f173b71acfd925092c3c up to, but not including, fcee75daecc5234ee3482d8cf3518bf021d8a0a5; 5224b189462ff70df328f173b71acfd925092c3c up to, but not including, a956daad67cec454ee985e103e167711fab5b9b8; 5224b189462ff70df328f173b71acfd925092c3c up to, but not including, aacc875a448d363332b9df0621dde6d3a225ea9f; 6.10 | fcee75daecc5234ee3482d8cf3518bf021d8a0a5, a956daad67cec454ee985e103e167711fab5b9b8, aacc875a448d363332b9df0621dde6d3a225ea9f |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.10 up to, but not including, 6.12.39; 6.13 up to, but not including, 6.15.7; 6.16 | 6.12.39, 6.15.7 |
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 | 7.3 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | NVD |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: clk: imx: Fix an out-of-bounds access in dispmix_csr_clk_dev_data When num_parents is 4, __clk_register() occurs an out-of-bounds when accessing parent_names member. Use ARRAY_SIZE() instead of hardcode number here. BUG: KASAN: global-out-of-bounds in __clk_register+0x1844/0x20d8 Read of size 8 at addr ffff800086988e78 by task kworker/u24:3/59 Hardware name: NXP i.MX95 19X19 board (DT) Workqueue: events_unbound deferred_probe_work_func Call trace: dump_backtrace+0x94/0xec show_stack+0x18/0x24 dump_stack_lvl+0x8c/0xcc print_report+0x398/0x5fc kasan_report+0xd4/0x114 __asan_report_load8_noabort+0x20/0x2c __clk_register+0x1844/0x20d8 clk_hw_register+0x44/0x110 __clk_hw_register_mux+0x284/0x3a8 imx95_bc_probe+0x4f4/0xa70
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
Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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