#VU112180 Use-after-free in Linux kernel - CVE-2025-38109

Vulnerability identifier: #VU112180

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-2025-38109

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 mlx5_eswitch_enable_pf_vf_vports() and mlx5_eswitch_disable_pf_vf_vports() functions in drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/eswitch.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/24db585d369f949f698e03d7d8017e5ae19d0497
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5953ae44dfe5dbad374318875be834c3b7b71ee6
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/687560d8a9a2d654829ad0da1ec24242f1de711d
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/da15ca0553325acf68039015f2f4db750c8e2b96

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?