Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1 drbd kref_get use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1. This impacts the function kref_get of the component drbd. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-38708. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function kref_get of the component drbd. The manipulation 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: drbd: add missing kref_get in handle_write_conflicts With `two-primaries` enabled, DRBD tries to detect "concurrent" writes and handle write conflicts, so that even if you write to the same sector simultaneously on both nodes, they end up with the identical data once the writes are completed. In handling "superseeded" writes, we forgot a kref_get, resulting in a premature drbd_destroy_device and use after free, and further to kernel crashes with symptoms. Relevance: No one should use DRBD as a random data generator, and apparently all users of "two-primaries" handle concurrent writes correctly on layer up. That is cluster file systems use some distributed lock manager, and live migration in virtualization environments stops writes on one node before starting writes on the other node. Which means that other than for "test cases", this code path is never taken in real life. FYI, in DRBD 9, things are handled differently nowadays. We still detect "write conflicts", but no longer try to be smart about them. We decided to disconnect hard instead: upper layers must not submit concurrent writes. If they do, that's their fault.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38708 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 02/10/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261562 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38708), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.149, 6.6.103, 6.12.43, 6.15.11, 6.16.2 or 6.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 0336bfe9c237476bd7c45605a36ca79c2bca62e5/810cd546a29bfac90ed1328ea01d693d4bd11cb1/84ef8dd3238330d1795745ece83b19f0295751bf/57418de35420cedab035aa1da8a26c0499b7f575/9f53b2433ad248cd3342cc345f56f5c7904bd8c4/7d483ad300fc0a06f69b019dda8f74970714baf8/46e3763dcae0ffcf8fcfaff4fc10a90a92ffdd89/3a896498f6f577e57bf26aaa93b48c22b6d20c20/00c9c9628b49e368d140cfa61d7df9b8922ec2a8 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 (261562) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1976). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

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

Productinfo

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Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7

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

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 261562
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38708

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.297/5.10.241/5.15.190/6.1.149/6.6.103/6.12.43/6.15.11/6.16.2/6.17-rc1
Patch: 0336bfe9c237476bd7c45605a36ca79c2bca62e5/810cd546a29bfac90ed1328ea01d693d4bd11cb1/84ef8dd3238330d1795745ece83b19f0295751bf/57418de35420cedab035aa1da8a26c0499b7f575/9f53b2433ad248cd3342cc345f56f5c7904bd8c4/7d483ad300fc0a06f69b019dda8f74970714baf8/46e3763dcae0ffcf8fcfaff4fc10a90a92ffdd89/3a896498f6f577e57bf26aaa93b48c22b6d20c20/00c9c9628b49e368d140cfa61d7df9b8922ec2a8

Timelineinfo

04/16/2025 CVE reserved
09/04/2025 +141 days Advisory disclosed
09/04/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/10/2026 +159 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-38708 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38708
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-322540
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1976 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 09/04/2025 18:26
Updated: 02/10/2026 07:02
Changes: 09/04/2025 18:26 (59), 09/05/2025 18:23 (7), 09/07/2025 22:35 (2), 10/08/2025 17:55 (1), 12/09/2025 18:13 (1), 01/15/2026 00:47 (1), 01/27/2026 18:02 (11), 02/10/2026 07:02 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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