Linux Kernel prior 6.15.3/6.16-rc1 scsi dev_loss_tmo_callbk use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2/e4913d4bc59227fbdfe6b8f5541f49aaea1cb41c. It has been classified as critical. The affected element is the function dev_loss_tmo_callbk of the component scsi. Performing a manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-38289. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.2/e4913d4bc59227fbdfe6b8f5541f49aaea1cb41c. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function dev_loss_tmo_callbk of the component scsi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: lpfc: Avoid potential ndlp use-after-free in dev_loss_tmo_callbk Smatch detected a potential use-after-free of an ndlp oject in dev_loss_tmo_callbk during driver unload or fatal error handling. Fix by reordering code to avoid potential use-after-free if initial nodelist reference has been previously removed.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-38289 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 12/07/2025).

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 6.15.3 or 6.16-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 4f09940b5581e44069eb31a66cf7f05c3c35ed04/b5162bb6aa1ec04dff4509b025883524b6d7e7ca 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) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1522). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell Avamar
• Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• e4913d4bc59227fbdfe6b8f5541f49aaea1cb41c

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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