Linux Kernel up to a54091c24220a4cd847d5b4f36d678edacddbaf0 padata queue_work reference count

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4.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to a54091c24220a4cd847d5b4f36d678edacddbaf0. This impacts the function queue_work of the component padata. The manipulation results in reference count. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-38031. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to a54091c24220a4cd847d5b4f36d678edacddbaf0. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function queue_work of the component padata. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: padata: do not leak refcount in reorder_work A recent patch that addressed a UAF introduced a reference count leak: the parallel_data refcount is incremented unconditionally, regardless of the return value of queue_work(). If the work item is already queued, the incremented refcount is never decremented. Fix this by checking the return value of queue_work() and decrementing the refcount when necessary. Resolves: Unreferenced object 0xffff9d9f421e3d80 (size 192): comm "cryptomgr_probe", pid 157, jiffies 4294694003 hex dump (first 32 bytes): 80 8b cf 41 9f 9d ff ff b8 97 e0 89 ff ff ff ff ...A............ d0 97 e0 89 ff ff ff ff 19 00 00 00 1f 88 23 00 ..............#. backtrace (crc 838fb36): __kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x284/0x320 padata_alloc_pd+0x20/0x1e0 padata_alloc_shell+0x3b/0xa0 0xffffffffc040a54d cryptomgr_probe+0x43/0xc0 kthread+0xf6/0x1f0 ret_from_fork+0x2f/0x50 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38031 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242164 (Oracle Linux 8 / 9 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20470)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.238, 5.15.185, 6.1.141, 6.6.93, 6.12.31 or 6.14.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b9ad8e50e8589607e68e6c4cefa7f72bf35a2cb1/1a426abdf1c86882c9203dd8182f3b8274b89938/cceb15864e1612ebfbc10ec4e4dcd19a10c0056c/584a729615fa92f4de45480efb7e569d14be1516/5300e487487d7a2e3e1e6e9d8f03ed9452e4019e/1c65ae4988714716101555fe2b9830e33136d6fb/d6ebcde6d4ecf34f8495fb30516645db3aea8993 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 (242164) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1350). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.0

VulDB Base Score: 2.6
VulDB Temp Score: 2.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Reference count
CWE: CWE-911 / CWE-664
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 242164
Nessus Name: Oracle Linux 8 / 9 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20470)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.238/5.15.185/6.1.141/6.6.93/6.12.31/6.14.9
Patch: b9ad8e50e8589607e68e6c4cefa7f72bf35a2cb1/1a426abdf1c86882c9203dd8182f3b8274b89938/cceb15864e1612ebfbc10ec4e4dcd19a10c0056c/584a729615fa92f4de45480efb7e569d14be1516/5300e487487d7a2e3e1e6e9d8f03ed9452e4019e/1c65ae4988714716101555fe2b9830e33136d6fb/d6ebcde6d4ecf34f8495fb30516645db3aea8993

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 🔍
06/18/2025 +63 days 🔍
06/18/2025 +0 days 🔍
02/02/2026 +229 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38031 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38031
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-312882
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1350 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 06/18/2025 12:09
Updated: 02/02/2026 05:19
Changes: 06/18/2025 12:09 (59), 07/17/2025 11:13 (2), 10/20/2025 06:23 (7), 12/19/2025 00:31 (12), 02/02/2026 05:19 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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