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CVE-2025-38594

7.8 · HIGH
Published Aug 19, 2025 linux CWE-416 EPSS 0.15% (5th pctl)

Overview

CVE-2025-38594 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on August 19, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

Technical Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

iommu/vt-d: Fix UAF on sva unbind with pending IOPFs

Commit 17fce9d2336d ("iommu/vt-d: Put iopf enablement in domain attach

path") disables IOPF on device by removing the device from its IOMMU's

IOPF queue when the last IOPF-capable domain is detached from the device.

Unfortunately, it did this in a wrong place where there are still pending

IOPFs. As a result, a use-after-free error is potentially triggered and

eventually a kernel panic with a kernel trace similar to the following:

refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.

WARNING: CPU: 3 PID: 313 at lib/refcount.c:28 refcount_warn_saturate+0xd8/0xe0

Workqueue: iopf_queue/dmar0-iopfq iommu_sva_handle_iopf

Call Trace:

<TASK>

iopf_free_group+0xe/0x20

process_one_work+0x197/0x3d0

worker_thread+0x23a/0x350

? rescuer_thread+0x4a0/0x4a0

kthread+0xf8/0x230

? finish_task_switch.isra.0+0x81/0x260

? kthreads_online_cpu+0x110/0x110

? kthreads_online

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Affected Products

Vendor Product Versions Status

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-38594?

CVE-2025-38594 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on August 19, 2025 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2025-38594?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2025-38594?

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2025-38594?

CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2025-38594 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.