CVE-2025-23138: Linux kernel · watch_queue: fix pipe accounting mismatch
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1086.93~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 12 Nov 2026, 19:26 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1086.93~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1091.100~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1085.94~20.04.1 +64
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 16 Apr 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 12 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7592-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7593-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7594-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7597-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7597-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7598-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7594-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7602-1 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-nvidiapkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and has been released in Linux kernel versions 5.15.0-1086.93~20.04.1 and later. Users should update to these fixed kernel versions or later to remediate this vulnerability. After applying the update, a system reboot is required to activate the fix.
Description
CVE-2025-23138 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's watch_queue subsystem where pipe accounting is mismatched. The function watch_queue_set_size() modifies pipe buffer counts charged to a user but does not update the pipe's internal accounting, leading to potential underflow when the pipe is freed. This can cause failures in subsequent pipe buffer limit checks, resulting in errors such as -EPERM. The issue has been fixed in Linux kernel versions 5.15.0-1086.93~20.04.1 and later.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-23138 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-23138 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f13abc1e8e1a3b7455511c4e122750127f6bc9b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/205028ebba838938d3b264dda1d0708fa7fe1ade (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d680b988656bb556c863d8b46d9b9096842bf3d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/471c89b7d4f58bd6082f7c1fe14d4ca15c7f1284 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/56ec918e6c86c1536870e4373e91eddd0c44245f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6dafa27764183738dc5368b669b71e3d0d154f12 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8658c75343ed00e5e154ebbe24335f51ba8db547 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d40e3537265dea9e3c33021874437ff26dc18787 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f13abc1e8e1a3b7455511c4e122750127f6bc9b0 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7592-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7593-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7594-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7591-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7597-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7597-2 (opens in a new tab)