Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2025-38485 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 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 6ecd61c201b27ad2760b3975437ad2b97d725b98, dda42f23a8f5439eaac9521ce0531547d880cc54, bfcda3e1015791b3a63fb4d3aad408da9cf76e8f 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 0.17% 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 6ecd61c201b27ad2760b3975437ad2b97d725b98 or dda42f23a8f5439eaac9521ce0531547d880cc54 or bfcda3e1015791b3a63fb4d3aad408da9cf76e8f or 1803d372460aaa9ae0188a30c9421d3f157f2f04, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.1.147 or 6.6.100 or 6.12.40 or 6.15.8, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 79e3a5bdd9efbdf4e1069793d7735b432d641e7c up to, but not including, 6ecd61c201b27ad2760b3975437ad2b97d725b98; 79e3a5bdd9efbdf4e1069793d7735b432d641e7c up to, but not including, dda42f23a8f5439eaac9521ce0531547d880cc54; 79e3a5bdd9efbdf4e1069793d7735b432d641e7c up to, but not including, bfcda3e1015791b3a63fb4d3aad408da9cf76e8f; 79e3a5bdd9efbdf4e1069793d7735b432d641e7c up to, but not including, 1803d372460aaa9ae0188a30c9421d3f157f2f04; 79e3a5bdd9efbdf4e1069793d7735b432d641e7c up to, but not including, 1fe16dc1a2f5057772e5391ec042ed7442966c9a; 5.14 | 6ecd61c201b27ad2760b3975437ad2b97d725b98, dda42f23a8f5439eaac9521ce0531547d880cc54, bfcda3e1015791b3a63fb4d3aad408da9cf76e8f, 1803d372460aaa9ae0188a30c9421d3f157f2f04, 1fe16dc1a2f5057772e5391ec042ed7442966c9a |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 5.14 up to, but not including, 6.1.147; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.100; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.12.40; 6.13 up to, but not including, 6.15.8; 6.16 | 6.1.147, 6.6.100, 6.12.40, 6.15.8 |
| 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
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- 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:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: iio: accel: fxls8962af: Fix use after free in fxls8962af_fifo_flush fxls8962af_fifo_flush() uses indio_dev->active_scan_mask (with iio_for_each_active_channel()) without making sure the indio_dev stays in buffer mode. There is a race if indio_dev exits buffer mode in the middle of the interrupt that flushes the fifo. Fix this by calling synchronize_irq() to ensure that no interrupt is currently running when disabling buffer mode. Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000 when read [...] _find_first_bit_le from fxls8962af_fifo_flush+0x17c/0x290 fxls8962af_fifo_flush from fxls8962af_interrupt+0x80/0x178 fxls8962af_interrupt from irq_thread_fn+0x1c/0x7c irq_thread_fn from irq_thread+0x110/0x1f4 irq_thread from kthread+0xe0/0xfc kthread from ret_from_fork+0x14/0x2c
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1803d372460aaa9ae0188a30c9421d3f157f2f04
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fe16dc1a2f5057772e5391ec042ed7442966c9a
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6ecd61c201b27ad2760b3975437ad2b97d725b98
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bfcda3e1015791b3a63fb4d3aad408da9cf76e8f
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dda42f23a8f5439eaac9521ce0531547d880cc54
Third-party and government advisories
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.htmlThird Party Advisory
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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