Linux KernelOperating system · Linux

CVE-2025-38227

HIGH · 7.8 CVSS v3.1 Published 2025-07-04

Fix available

A fix is available. Upgrade to 5.10.239 / 5.15.186 or later.

See remediation →

80/100

Remediation priority · High

Zero-click Patch available

Official description

NVD · unedited

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: vidtv: Terminating the subsequent process of initialization failure syzbot reported a slab-use-after-free Read in vidtv_mux_init. [1] After PSI initialization fails, the si member is accessed again, resulting in this uaf. After si initialization fails, the subsequent process needs to be exited. [1] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in vidtv_mux_pid_ctx_init drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_mux.c:78 [inline] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in vidtv_mux_init+0xac2/0xbe0 drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_mux.c:524 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88802fa42acc by task syz.2.37/6059 CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 6059 Comm: syz.2.37 Not tainted 6.14.0-rc5-syzkaller #0 Hardware name: Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 02/12/2025 Call Trace: <TASK> __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:94 [inline] dump_stack_lvl+0x116/0x1f0 lib/dump_stack.c:120 print_address_description mm/kasan/report.c:408 [inline] print_report+0xc3/0x670 mm/kasan/report.c:521 kasan_report+0xd9/0x110 mm/kasan/report.c:634 vidtv_mux_pid_ctx_init drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_mux.c:78 vidtv_mux_init+0xac2/0xbe0 drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_mux.c:524 vidtv_start_streaming drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_bridge.c:194 vidtv_start_feed drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_bridge.c:239 dmx_section_feed_start_filtering drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_demux.c:973 dvb_dmxdev_feed_start drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:508 [inline] dvb_dmxdev_feed_restart.isra.0 drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:537 dvb_dmxdev_filter_stop+0x2b4/0x3a0 drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:564 dvb_dmxdev_filter_free drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:840 [inline] dvb_demux_release+0x92/0x550 drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:1246 __fput+0x3ff/0xb70 fs/file_table.c:464 task_work_run+0x14e/0x250 kernel/task_work.c:227 exit_task_work include/linux/task_work.h:40 [inline] do_exit+0xad8/0x2d70 kernel/exit.c:938 do_group_exit+0xd3/0x2a0 kernel/exit.c:1087 __do_sys_exit_group kernel/exit.c:1098 [inline] __se_sys_exit_group kernel/exit.c:1096 [inline] __x64_sys_exit_group+0x3e/0x50 kernel/exit.c:1096 x64_sys_call+0x151f/0x1720 arch/x86/include/generated/asm/syscalls_64.h:232 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xcd/0x250 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f RIP: 0033:0x7f871d58d169 Code: Unable to access opcode bytes at 0x7f871d58d13f. RSP: 002b:00007fff4b19a788 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 00000000000000e7 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 00007f871d58d169 RDX: 0000000000000064 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: 0000000000000000 RBP: 00007fff4b19a7ec R08: 0000000b4b19a87f R09: 00000000000927c0 R10: 0000000000000001 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 0000000000000003 R13: 00000000000927c0 R14: 000000000001d553 R15: 00007fff4b19a840 </TASK> Allocated by task 6059: kasan_save_stack+0x33/0x60 mm/kasan/common.c:47 kasan_save_track+0x14/0x30 mm/kasan/common.c:68 poison_kmalloc_redzone mm/kasan/common.c:377 [inline] __kasan_kmalloc+0xaa/0xb0 mm/kasan/common.c:394 kmalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:901 [inline] kzalloc_noprof include/linux/slab.h:1037 [inline] vidtv_psi_pat_table_init drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_psi.c:970 vidtv_channel_si_init drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_channel.c:423 vidtv_mux_init drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_mux.c:519 vidtv_start_streaming drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_bridge.c:194 vidtv_start_feed drivers/media/test-drivers/vidtv/vidtv_bridge.c:239 dmx_section_feed_start_filtering drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_demux.c:973 dvb_dmxdev_feed_start drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:508 [inline] dvb_dmxdev_feed_restart.isra.0 drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:537 dvb_dmxdev_filter_stop+0x2b4/0x3a0 drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:564 dvb_dmxdev_filter_free drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:840 [inline] dvb_demux_release+0x92/0x550 drivers/media/dvb-core/dmxdev.c:1246 __fput+0x3ff/0xb70 fs/file_tabl ---truncated---

Technical summary

dbcve analysis

How this class of weakness works · CWE-416

Memory is used after it has been freed, so its contents — now potentially attacker-controlled — drive the program's behaviour. With careful heap grooming this becomes code execution. The fix requires disciplined ownership of memory and often a targeted rework of the object lifecycle.

General guidance for the use after free class — the official description and references above are authoritative for this specific CVE. Want a bespoke review and a reviewed fix? Ask our team →

Affected products & versions

NVD · CPE data

Linux KernelOperating system

Affected:>= 5.10.1, < 5.10.239>= 5.11, < 5.15.186>= 5.16, < 6.1.142>= 6.2, < 6.6.95>= 6.7, < 6.12.35>= 6.13, < 6.15.4= 5.10

Debian LinuxOperating system

Affected:= 11.0

CVSS breakdown

From the vector

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Remediation

dbcve · scoped

Upgrade available Upgrade to 5.10.239 / 5.15.186 / 6.1.142 or later

Fixed in 5.10.2395.15.1866.1.142

Vendor patch git.kernel.org →

Recommended fix High confidence

5.10.239, 5.15.186, 6.1.142, or 6.6.95 (depending on your current branch)

Identify the currently running kernel version using `uname -r`
Determine which kernel branch you are running (e.g., 5.10.x, 5.15.x, 6.1.x, 6.2.x - 6.6.x)
Upgrade to the corresponding fixed version: 5.10.239 for 5.10.x branches, 5.15.186 for 5.15.x branches, 6.1.142 for 6.1.x branches, or 6.6.95 for 6.2.x-6.6.x branches
Reboot the system to load the patched kernel
Verify the kernel version after reboot using `uname -r` to confirm the fix is applied

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

We can perform the upgrade in your staging environment and verify nothing breaks — typical engagement from $3,200. Get the upgrade done

Scan for this in your stack

Free · runs locally

dbcve dependency scanner

Check whether your project pulls in CVE-2025-38227 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.

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References

Primary sources

git.kernel.orgPatch / commit
git.kernel.orgPatch
git.kernel.orgPatch
git.kernel.orgPatch
git.kernel.orgPatch
git.kernel.orgPatch
git.kernel.orgPatch
git.kernel.orgPatch
lists.debian.orgMailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.debian.orgMailing ListThird Party Advisory
nvd.nist.govNVD record

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2025-38227 in production — separate from our analysis above.

Notes0 Guidelines

Know something about CVE-2025-38227?

The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.

The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
A config change or rule that shut the vector down
A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon

No notes yet

Be the first to add a field note for this CVE — a mitigation you’ve verified, a version caveat, or a link to a working fix. Sign in above to contribute.

What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here

Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data

At a glance

A fix existsUpgrade to 5.10.239 / 5.15.186 or later

Severity 7.8 High

Exploit likelihood EPSS, next 30 days 0.2%

Affects: Linux Kernel

Remediation

A high-priority fix

Get a fix

Estimated effortfrom ~18 hrs

ComplexityComplex

Typical engagementfrom $3,200

What a fix involves

We scope it with you and confirm a fixed quote
A specialist builds a reviewed fix
You deploy it to staging first
Optional re-test once it’s live

A high-priority vulnerability. Send your environment and a specialist will scope CVE-2025-38227 and return a fixed quote and timeline.

You’ll deal with our team directly and deploy the reviewed fix to staging first — never straight to production.

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

Scan for this in your stack

References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Practitioner notes

No notes yet

Official description

Technical summary

Affected products & versions

CVSS breakdown

Remediation

References