CVE-2025-38207

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix uprobe pte be overwritten when expanding vma Patch series "Fix uprobe pte be overwritten when expanding vma". This patch (of 4): We encountered a BUG alert triggered by Syzkaller as follows: BUG: Bad rss-counter state mm:00000000b4a60fca type:MM_ANONPAGES val:1 And we can reproduce it with the following steps: 1. register uprobe on file at zero offset 2. mmap the file at zero offset: addr1 = mmap(NULL, 2 * 4096, PROT_NONE, MAP_PRIVATE, fd, 0); 3. mremap part of vma1 to new vma2: addr2 = mremap(addr1, 4096, 2 * 4096, MREMAP_MAYMOVE); 4. mremap back to orig addr1: mremap(addr2, 4096, 4096, MREMAP_MAYMOVE | MREMAP_FIXED, addr1); In step 3, the vma1 range [addr1, addr1 + 4096] will be remap to new vma2 with range [addr2, addr2 + 8192], and remap uprobe anon page from the vma1 to vma2, then unmap the vma1 range [addr1, addr1 + 4096]. In step 4, the vma2 range [addr2, addr2 + 4096] will be remap back to the addr range [addr1, addr1 + 4096]. Since the addr range [addr1 + 4096, addr1 + 8192] still maps the file, it will take vma_merge_new_range to expand the range, and then do uprobe_mmap in vma_complete. Since the merged vma pgoff is also zero offset, it will install uprobe anon page to the merged vma. However, the upcomming move_page_tables step, which use set_pte_at to remap the vma2 uprobe pte to the merged vma, will overwrite the newly uprobe pte in the merged vma, and lead that pte to be orphan. Since the uprobe pte will be remapped to the merged vma, we can remove the unnecessary uprobe_mmap upon merged vma. This problem was first found in linux-6.6.y and also exists in the community syzkaller: https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/T/

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data tampering.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2025-07-04 14:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-21 13:18 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2025-07-04 14:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-21 13:18 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 6.15.4

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

High

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2025-38207.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2025-38207. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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