Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3 SCI dswstate.c kmem_cache_destroy memory leak

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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. It has been declared as critical. This affects the function kmem_cache_destroy of the file dswstate.c of the component SCI Handler. The manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-38345. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.15.3. Affected is the function kmem_cache_destroy of the file dswstate.c of the component SCI Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ACPICA: fix acpi operand cache leak in dswstate.c ACPICA commit 987a3b5cf7175916e2a4b6ea5b8e70f830dfe732 I found an ACPI cache leak in ACPI early termination and boot continuing case. When early termination occurs due to malicious ACPI table, Linux kernel terminates ACPI function and continues to boot process. While kernel terminates ACPI function, kmem_cache_destroy() reports Acpi-Operand cache leak. Boot log of ACPI operand cache leak is as follows: >[ 0.585957] ACPI: Added _OSI(Module Device) >[ 0.587218] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Device) >[ 0.588530] ACPI: Added _OSI(3.0 _SCP Extensions) >[ 0.589790] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Aggregator Device) >[ 0.591534] ACPI Error: Illegal I/O port address/length above 64K: C806E00000004002/0x2 (20170303/hwvalid-155) >[ 0.594351] ACPI Exception: AE_LIMIT, Unable to initialize fixed events (20170303/evevent-88) >[ 0.597858] ACPI: Unable to start the ACPI Interpreter >[ 0.599162] ACPI Error: Could not remove SCI handler (20170303/evmisc-281) >[ 0.601836] kmem_cache_destroy Acpi-Operand: Slab cache still has objects >[ 0.603556] CPU: 0 PID: 1 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 4.12.0-rc5 #26 >[ 0.605159] Hardware name: innotek gmb_h virtual_box/virtual_box, BIOS virtual_box 12/01/2006 >[ 0.609177] Call Trace: >[ 0.610063] ? dump_stack+0x5c/0x81 >[ 0.611118] ? kmem_cache_destroy+0x1aa/0x1c0 >[ 0.612632] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 >[ 0.613906] ? acpi_os_delete_cache+0xa/0x10 >[ 0.617986] ? acpi_ut_delete_caches+0x3f/0x7b >[ 0.619293] ? acpi_terminate+0xa/0x14 >[ 0.620394] ? acpi_init+0x2af/0x34f >[ 0.621616] ? __class_create+0x4c/0x80 >[ 0.623412] ? video_setup+0x7f/0x7f >[ 0.624585] ? acpi_sleep_proc_init+0x27/0x27 >[ 0.625861] ? do_one_initcall+0x4e/0x1a0 >[ 0.627513] ? kernel_init_freeable+0x19e/0x21f >[ 0.628972] ? rest_init+0x80/0x80 >[ 0.630043] ? kernel_init+0xa/0x100 >[ 0.631084] ? ret_from_fork+0x25/0x30 >[ 0.633343] vgaarb: loaded >[ 0.635036] EDAC MC: Ver: 3.0.0 >[ 0.638601] PCI: Probing PCI hardware >[ 0.639833] PCI host bridge to bus 0000:00 >[ 0.641031] pci_bus 0000:00: root bus resource [io 0x0000-0xffff] > ... Continue to boot and log is omitted ... I analyzed this memory leak in detail and found acpi_ds_obj_stack_pop_and_ delete() function miscalculated the top of the stack. acpi_ds_obj_stack_push() function uses walk_state->operand_index for start position of the top, but acpi_ds_obj_stack_pop_and_delete() function considers index 0 for it. Therefore, this causes acpi operand memory leak. This cache leak causes a security threat because an old kernel (<= 4.9) shows memory locations of kernel functions in stack dump. Some malicious users could use this information to neutralize kernel ASLR. I made a patch to fix ACPI operand cache leak.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38345 since 04/16/2025. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 264318 (Oracle Linux 7 / 8 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20553)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.295, 5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, 6.6.95, 6.12.35, 6.15.4 or 6.16-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 4fa430a8bca708c7776f6b9d001257f48b19a5b7/1c0d9115a001979cb446ba5e8331dd1d29a10bbf/5a68893b594ee6ce0efce5f74c07e64e9dd0c2c4/64c4bcf0308dd1d752ef31d560040b8725e29984/755a8006b76792922ff7b1c9674d8897a476b5d7/76d37168155880f2b04a0aad92ceb0f9d799950e/e0783910ca4368b01466bc8dcdcc13c3e0b7db53/156fd20a41e776bbf334bd5e45c4f78dfc90ce1c 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 (264318), EUVD (EUVD-2025-20901) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1522). Once again VulDB remains the best source 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

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Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
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: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
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: 264318
Nessus Name: Oracle Linux 7 / 8 : Unbreakable Enterprise kernel (ELSA-2025-20553)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.295/5.10.239/5.15.186/6.1.142/6.6.95/6.12.35/6.15.4/6.16-rc1
Patch: 4fa430a8bca708c7776f6b9d001257f48b19a5b7/1c0d9115a001979cb446ba5e8331dd1d29a10bbf/5a68893b594ee6ce0efce5f74c07e64e9dd0c2c4/64c4bcf0308dd1d752ef31d560040b8725e29984/755a8006b76792922ff7b1c9674d8897a476b5d7/76d37168155880f2b04a0aad92ceb0f9d799950e/e0783910ca4368b01466bc8dcdcc13c3e0b7db53/156fd20a41e776bbf334bd5e45c4f78dfc90ce1c

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/10/2025 +85 days Advisory disclosed
07/10/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/16/2025 +159 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38345 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38345
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-315972
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1522 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen erm&ouml;glichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 07/10/2025 11:39
Updated: 12/16/2025 22:50
Changes: 07/10/2025 11:39 (60), 07/10/2025 15:39 (1), 09/13/2025 02:34 (2), 10/12/2025 01:35 (7), 11/02/2025 21:43 (1), 12/08/2025 01:19 (1), 12/16/2025 22:50 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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