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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-37738: Linux kernel · ext4: ignore xattrs past end

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1088.95~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 11:42 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1088.95~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1094.103~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1087.96~20.04.2 +58
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 1 May 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1003.3 – 6.17.0-1017.17
10 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-100.100
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-100.100
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1046.49
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1046.49
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1046.52
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1046.52
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.11.0-1008.8~24.04.1 – 6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1
7 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.8.0-1046.53
Fixed in
  • 6.8.0-1046.53

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 5.15.0-1080.83~20.04.1 and later. Users and administrators should upgrade to these fixed kernel versions or newer to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official kernel updates.

Description

CVE-2025-37738 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ext4 filesystem code where extended attributes (xattrs) past the defined end are not properly ignored. This flaw causes a use-after-free memory error detected by Kernel Address Sanitizer (KASAN) in the function ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref_all. The issue has been fixed in multiple Linux kernel versions starting from 5.15.0-1080 and later. The vulnerability has a high severity score of 7.8 and could allow local attackers with limited privileges to cause memory corruption leading to potential system compromise.

References

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