Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc3 s390 memdup_user nr_apqns allocation of resources

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.142/6.6.95/6.12.35/6.15.4/6.16-rc3. This impacts the function memdup_user of the component s390. The manipulation of the argument nr_apqns results in allocation of resources. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2025-38257. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.142/6.6.95/6.12.35/6.15.4/6.16-rc3. Affected is the function memdup_user of the component s390. The manipulation of the argument nr_apqns with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-770. The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated, in violation of the intended security policy for that actor. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/pkey: Prevent overflow in size calculation for memdup_user() Number of apqn target list entries contained in 'nr_apqns' variable is determined by userspace via an ioctl call so the result of the product in calculation of size passed to memdup_user() may overflow. In this case the actual size of the allocated area and the value describing it won't be in sync leading to various types of unpredictable behaviour later. Use a proper memdup_array_user() helper which returns an error if an overflow is detected. Note that it is different from when nr_apqns is initially zero - that case is considered valid and should be handled in subsequent pkey_handler implementations. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org).

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38257 since 04/16/2025. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 243301 (SUSE SLES15 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2025:02588-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.143, 6.6.96, 6.12.36, 6.15.5 or 6.16-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch faa1ab4a23c42e34dc000ef4977b751d94d5148c/88f3869649edbc4a13f6c2877091f81cd5a50f05/f855b119e62b004a5044ed565f2a2b368c4d3f16/73483ca7e07a5e39bdf612eec9d3d293e8bef649/7360ee47599af91a1d5f4e74d635d9408a54e489 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 (243301), EUVD (EUVD-2025-20804) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1517). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Google Cloud Platform
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.142
• 6.6.0
• 6.6.1
• 6.6.2
• 6.6.3
• 6.6.4
• 6.6.5
• 6.6.6
• 6.6.7
• 6.6.8
• 6.6.9
• 6.6.10
• 6.6.11
• 6.6.12
• 6.6.13
• 6.6.14
• 6.6.15
• 6.6.16
• 6.6.17
• 6.6.18
• 6.6.19
• 6.6.20
• 6.6.21
• 6.6.22
• 6.6.23
• 6.6.24
• 6.6.25
• 6.6.26
• 6.6.27
• 6.6.28
• 6.6.29
• 6.6.30
• 6.6.31
• 6.6.32
• 6.6.33
• 6.6.34
• 6.6.35
• 6.6.36
• 6.6.37
• 6.6.38
• 6.6.39
• 6.6.40
• 6.6.41
• 6.6.42
• 6.6.43
• 6.6.44
• 6.6.45
• 6.6.46
• 6.6.47
• 6.6.48
• 6.6.49
• 6.6.50
• 6.6.51
• 6.6.52
• 6.6.53
• 6.6.54
• 6.6.55
• 6.6.56
• 6.6.57
• 6.6.58
• 6.6.59
• 6.6.60
• 6.6.61
• 6.6.62
• 6.6.63
• 6.6.64
• 6.6.65
• 6.6.66
• 6.6.67
• 6.6.68
• 6.6.69
• 6.6.70
• 6.6.71
• 6.6.72
• 6.6.73
• 6.6.74
• 6.6.75
• 6.6.76
• 6.6.77
• 6.6.78
• 6.6.79
• 6.6.80
• 6.6.81
• 6.6.82
• 6.6.83
• 6.6.84
• 6.6.85
• 6.6.86
• 6.6.87
• 6.6.88
• 6.6.89
• 6.6.90
• 6.6.91
• 6.6.92
• 6.6.93
• 6.6.94
• 6.6.95
• 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
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.16-rc1
• 6.16-rc2
• 6.16-rc3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

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

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