Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1 smb2_create_link deadlock

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5.0	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1. The impacted element is the function smb2_create_link. The manipulation leads to deadlock. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2025-38711. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.16.1. This issue affects the function smb2_create_link. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb/server: avoid deadlock when linking with ReplaceIfExists If smb2_create_link() is called with ReplaceIfExists set and the name does exist then a deadlock will happen. ksmbd_vfs_kern_path_locked() will return with success and the parent directory will be locked. ksmbd_vfs_remove_file() will then remove the file. ksmbd_vfs_link() will then be called while the parent is still locked. It will try to lock the same parent and will deadlock. This patch moves the ksmbd_vfs_kern_path_unlock() call to *before* ksmbd_vfs_link() and then simplifies the code, removing the file_present flag variable.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-38711 since 04/16/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261544 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38711), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 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 9d5012ffe14120f978ee34aef4df3d6cb026b7c4/ac98d54630d5b52e3f684d872f0d82c06c418ea9/1e858a7a51c7b8b009d8f246de7ceb7743b44a71/814cfdb6358d9b84fcbec9918c8f938cc096a43a/a7dddd62578c2eb6cb28b8835556a121b5157323/a726fef6d7d4cfc365d3434e3916dbfe78991a33/d5fc1400a34b4ea5e8f2ce296ea12bf8c8421694 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 (261544) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1976). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality 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

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.189
• 6.1.148
• 6.6.102
• 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
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.15.5
• 6.15.6
• 6.15.7
• 6.15.8
• 6.15.9
• 6.15.10
• 6.16.0
• 6.16.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Deadlock
CWE: CWE-833 / CWE-404
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: 261544
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-38711

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.190/6.1.149/6.6.103/6.12.43/6.15.11/6.16.2/6.17-rc1
Patch: 9d5012ffe14120f978ee34aef4df3d6cb026b7c4/ac98d54630d5b52e3f684d872f0d82c06c418ea9/1e858a7a51c7b8b009d8f246de7ceb7743b44a71/814cfdb6358d9b84fcbec9918c8f938cc096a43a/a7dddd62578c2eb6cb28b8835556a121b5157323/a726fef6d7d4cfc365d3434e3916dbfe78991a33/d5fc1400a34b4ea5e8f2ce296ea12bf8c8421694

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-2025-38711 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-38711
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-322571
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1976 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 09/04/2025 18:31
Updated: 02/10/2026 07:02
Changes: 09/04/2025 18:31 (58), 09/05/2025 19:03 (7), 09/07/2025 23:45 (2), 10/08/2025 18:36 (1), 12/09/2025 18:13 (1), 01/09/2026 17:18 (11), 01/15/2026 02:08 (1), 02/10/2026 07:02 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

Discussion

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