Linux Kernel up to 6.12.30/6.14.8 status_store deadlock

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.30/6.14.8. Affected by this vulnerability is the function status_store. Performing a manipulation results in deadlock. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38038. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.30/6.14.8. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function status_store. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cpufreq: amd-pstate: Remove unnecessary driver_lock in set_boost set_boost is a per-policy function call, hence a driver wide lock is unnecessary. Also this mutex_acquire can collide with the mutex_acquire from the mode-switch path in status_store(), which can lead to a deadlock. So, remove it.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38038 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 241773 (Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool, kernel6.12, kernel6.12-modules-extra (ALAS2023-2025-1052)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.31 or 6.14.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 61e931ee145eeab8196e585ff4334870b130b744/cd347d071713234586762d79c5a691785e9be418/db1cafc77aaaf871509da06f4a864e9af6d6791f is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (241773) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1350). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.14.0
• 6.14.1
• 6.14.2
• 6.14.3
• 6.14.4
• 6.14.5
• 6.14.6
• 6.14.7
• 6.14.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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