CVE-2025-38132 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/03/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
coresight: holding cscfg_csdev_lock while removing cscfg from csdev
There'll be possible race scenario for coresight config:
CPU0 CPU1 (perf enable) load module cscfg_load_config_sets() activate config. // sysfs (sys_active_cnt == 1) ... cscfg_csdev_enable_active_config() lock(csdev->cscfg_csdev_lock) deactivate config // sysfs (sys_activec_cnt == 0) cscfg_unload_config_sets() <iterating config_csdev_list> cscfg_remove_owned_csdev_configs() // here load config activate by CPU1 unlock(csdev->cscfg_csdev_lock)
iterating config_csdev_list could be raced with config_csdev_list's entry delete.
To resolve this race , hold csdev->cscfg_csdev_lock() while cscfg_remove_owned_csdev_configs()
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2025-38132 represents a critical race condition within the Linux kernel's CoreSight framework, which is responsible for system-wide performance monitoring and debugging capabilities. This flaw exists in the interaction between multiple CPU cores during concurrent operations involving configuration management and device state transitions. The CoreSight subsystem provides hardware performance counters and trace capabilities essential for system diagnostics and profiling, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for embedded systems and server environments where precise timing and concurrent access are critical.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the kernel attempts to manage configuration sets for CoreSight devices while multiple execution contexts operate simultaneously. The race condition manifests during the sequence where one CPU thread performs a performance enable operation while another thread loads and activates a configuration module. The core issue stems from the improper locking mechanism where the cscfg_csdev_lock is acquired during the activation phase but released before the cleanup operation. This temporal gap allows for concurrent modification of the config_csdev_list data structure, creating a situation where an iterator may attempt to traverse a list that is simultaneously being modified by another thread.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, potentially enabling privilege escalation or denial of service conditions within the kernel space. When the race condition occurs, the system may experience crashes or unpredictable behavior during performance monitoring operations, particularly when multiple threads attempt to simultaneously enable and disable configuration sets. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-362, which describes a race condition in concurrent execution environments where multiple threads access shared resources without proper synchronization mechanisms. The flaw represents a classic example of improper locking where critical sections are not consistently protected across all operations that modify shared data structures.
The mitigation strategy involves modifying the locking behavior to ensure that the cscfg_csdev_lock remains held throughout the entire cleanup operation, specifically during the cscfg_remove_owned_csdev_configs() function call. This approach prevents any race conditions by maintaining exclusive access to the configuration device list during the removal process, ensuring that no other thread can modify the list structure while it is being iterated. The fix aligns with established best practices for concurrent programming and addresses the fundamental flaw identified in the ATT&CK framework's system binary modification techniques, where improper synchronization can lead to kernel-level vulnerabilities. This remediation ensures that the CoreSight subsystem maintains data integrity and prevents potential exploitation through timing-based attacks that could compromise system security and stability.