CVE-2025-38502
What it is
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix oob access in cgroup local storage Lonial reported that an out-of-bounds access in cgroup local storage can be crafted via tail calls. Given two programs each utilizing a cgroup local storage with a different value size, and one program doing a tail call into the other. The verifier will validate each of the indivial programs just fine. However, in the runtime context the bpf_cg_run_ctx holds an bpf_prog_array_item which contains the BPF program as well as any cgroup local storage flavor the program uses. Helpers such as bpf_get_local_storage() pick this up from the runtime context: ctx = container_of(current->bpf_ctx, struct bpf_cg_run_ctx, run_ctx); storage = ctx->prog_item->cgroup_storage[stype]; if (stype == BPF_CGROUP_STORAGE_SHARED) ptr = &READ_ONCE(storage->buf)->data[0]; else ptr = this_cpu_ptr(storage->percpu_buf); For the second program which was called from the originally attached one, this means bpf_get_local_storage() will pick up the former program's map, not its own. With mismatching sizes, this can result in an unintended out-of-bounds access. To fix this issue, we need to extend bpf_map_owner with an array of storage_cookie[] to match on i) the exact maps from the original program if the second program was using bpf_get_local_storage(), or ii) allow the tail call combination if the second program was not using any of the cgroup local storage maps.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- 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
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- 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: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-125 · Out-of-bounds read
- Record status
- Modified
Affected
- Linux Kernel < 5.15.192
- Linux Kernel < 6.1.151
- Linux Kernel < 6.6.105
- Linux Kernel < 6.12.46
- Linux Kernel < 6.16.1
- Debian Linux 11.0
- Siemens Simatic Cn 4100 Firmware < 5.0
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.8
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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-2025-38502.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2025-38502. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19341d5c59e8c7e8528e40f8663e99d67810473c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41688d1fc5d163a6c2c0e95c0419e2cb31a44648
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/66da7cee78590259b400e51a70622ccd41da7bb2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7acfa07c585e3d7a64654d38f0a5c762877d0b9b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/abad3d0bad72a52137e0c350c59542d75ae4f513
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1c74584b9b4043c52e41fec415226e582d266a3
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/19341d5c59e8c7e8528e40f8663e99d67810473c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41688d1fc5d163a6c2c0e95c0419e2cb31a44648
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/66da7cee78590259b400e51a70622ccd41da7bb2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7acfa07c585e3d7a64654d38f0a5c762877d0b9b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/abad3d0bad72a52137e0c350c59542d75ae4f513
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c1c74584b9b4043c52e41fec415226e582d266a3
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-032379.html