#VU111466 Use-after-free in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-38051

Vulnerability identifier: #VU111466

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 5.9 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-38051

CWE-ID: CWE-416

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error within the find_cifs_entry() function in fs/cifs/readdir.c. A local user can escalate privileges on the system.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's repository.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: All versions

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External links
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b197931fbc821bc7e9e91bf619400db563e3338
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/73cadde98f67f76c5eba00ac0b72c453383cec8b
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9bea368648ac46f8593a780760362e40291d22a9
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c9aafbacc183598f064902365e107b5e856531f
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a24c2f05ac3c5b0aaa539d9d913826d2643dfd0e
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7a8fe56e932a36f43e031b398aef92341bf5ea0
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aee067e88d61eb72e966f094e4749c6b14e7008f
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8623231e0edfcccb7cc6add0288fa0f0594282f

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?