Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2 perf do_exit stack-based overflow

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2. This affects the function do_exit of the component perf. The manipulation leads to stack-based overflow. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-38424. There is no exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16-rc2. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function do_exit of the component perf. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a stack-based overflow vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-121. A stack-based buffer overflow condition is a condition where the buffer being overwritten is allocated on the stack (i.e., is a local variable or, rarely, a parameter to a function). Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf: Fix sample vs do_exit() Baisheng Gao reported an ARM64 crash, which Mark decoded as being a synchronous external abort -- most likely due to trying to access MMIO in bad ways. The crash further shows perf trying to do a user stack sample while in exit_mmap()'s tlb_finish_mmu() -- i.e. while tearing down the address space it is trying to access. It turns out that we stop perf after we tear down the userspace mm; a receipie for disaster, since perf likes to access userspace for various reasons. Flip this order by moving up where we stop perf in do_exit(). Additionally, harden PERF_SAMPLE_CALLCHAIN and PERF_SAMPLE_STACK_USER to abort when the current task does not have an mm (exit_mm() makes sure to set current->mm = NULL; before commencing with the actual teardown). Such that CPU wide events don't trip on this same problem.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-38424 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known 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 01/03/2026).

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-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7b8f3c72175c6a63a95cf2e219f8b78e2baad34e/507c9a595bad3abd107c6a8857d7fd125d89f386/a9f6aab7910a0ef2895797f15c947f6d1053160f/975ffddfa2e19823c719459d2364fcaa17673964/2ee6044a693735396bb47eeaba1ac3ae26c1c99b/456019adaa2f5366b89c868dea9b483179bece54/7311970d07c4606362081250da95f2c7901fc0db/4f6fc782128355931527cefe3eb45338abd8ab39 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) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1653). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

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

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Stack-based overflow
CWE: CWE-121 / CWE-119
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-rc3
Patch: 7b8f3c72175c6a63a95cf2e219f8b78e2baad34e/507c9a595bad3abd107c6a8857d7fd125d89f386/a9f6aab7910a0ef2895797f15c947f6d1053160f/975ffddfa2e19823c719459d2364fcaa17673964/2ee6044a693735396bb47eeaba1ac3ae26c1c99b/456019adaa2f5366b89c868dea9b483179bece54/7311970d07c4606362081250da95f2c7901fc0db/4f6fc782128355931527cefe3eb45338abd8ab39

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-2025-38424 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38424
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-317699
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1653 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 07/25/2025 19:07
Updated: 01/03/2026 23:02
Changes: 07/25/2025 19:07 (59), 08/20/2025 21:21 (7), 09/13/2025 02:26 (2), 09/15/2025 00:12 (1), 09/16/2025 05:29 (1), 09/29/2025 00:09 (1), 11/02/2025 12:40 (1), 11/17/2025 03:50 (1), 12/24/2025 07:28 (12), 01/03/2026 23:02 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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