Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2 ACPICA method use after free

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6.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2. This impacts an unknown function of the component ACPICA. Executing a manipulation of the argument method can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-38386. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2. This vulnerability affects an unknown part of the component ACPICA. The manipulation of the argument method with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ACPICA: Refuse to evaluate a method if arguments are missing As reported in [1], a platform firmware update that increased the number of method parameters and forgot to update a least one of its callers, caused ACPICA to crash due to use-after-free. Since this a result of a clear AML issue that arguably cannot be fixed up by the interpreter (it cannot produce missing data out of thin air), address it by making ACPICA refuse to evaluate a method if the caller attempts to pass fewer arguments than expected to it.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38386 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 01/03/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261439 (Amazon Linux 2 : kernel, --advisory ALAS2KERNEL-5.10-2025-102 (ALASKERNEL-5.10-2025-102)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.296, 5.10.240, 5.15.187, 6.1.144, 6.6.97, 6.12.37, 6.15.6 or 6.16-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b49d224d1830c46e20adce2a239c454cdab426f1/2219e49857ffd6aea1b1ca5214d3270f84623a16/ab1e8491c19eb2ea0fda81ef28e841c7cb6399f5/4305d936abde795c2ef6ba916de8f00a50f64d2d/d547779e72cea9865b732cd45393c4cd02b3598e/18ff4ed6a33a7e3f2097710eacc96bea7696e803/c9e4da550ae196132b990bd77ed3d8f2d9747f87/6fcab2791543924d438e7fa49276d0998b0a069f 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 (261439) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1653). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.295
• 5.10.239
• 5.15.186
• 6.1.143
• 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
• 6.6.96
• 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
• 6.12.36
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.15.5
• 6.16-rc1
• 6.16-rc2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 261439
Nessus Name: Amazon Linux 2 : kernel, --advisory ALAS2KERNEL-5.10-2025-102 (ALASKERNEL-5.10-2025-102)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.296/5.10.240/5.15.187/6.1.144/6.6.97/6.12.37/6.15.6/6.16-rc3
Patch: b49d224d1830c46e20adce2a239c454cdab426f1/2219e49857ffd6aea1b1ca5214d3270f84623a16/ab1e8491c19eb2ea0fda81ef28e841c7cb6399f5/4305d936abde795c2ef6ba916de8f00a50f64d2d/d547779e72cea9865b732cd45393c4cd02b3598e/18ff4ed6a33a7e3f2097710eacc96bea7696e803/c9e4da550ae196132b990bd77ed3d8f2d9747f87/6fcab2791543924d438e7fa49276d0998b0a069f

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
07/25/2025 +100 days Advisory disclosed
07/25/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/03/2026 +162 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38386 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38386
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-317656
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1653 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/25/2025 15:42
Updated: 01/03/2026 16:16
Changes: 07/25/2025 15:42 (59), 08/19/2025 23:47 (7), 09/06/2025 05:05 (2), 09/14/2025 17:07 (1), 09/15/2025 18:59 (1), 09/28/2025 19:06 (1), 11/02/2025 09:16 (1), 11/17/2025 00:46 (1), 12/15/2025 20:35 (12), 01/03/2026 16:16 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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