CVE-2025-38008: Linux kernel · mm/page_alloc: fix race condition in unaccepted memory handling
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 4.7 Medium.
Data as of 14 Nov 2026, 20:43 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Jun 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 14 Nov 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
Since the vulnerability relates to kernel internal race conditions, updating to a fixed kernel version when available is recommended.
Description
CVE-2025-38008 addresses a race condition in the Linux kernel's memory management subsystem related to unaccepted memory handling in the page allocator. The issue arises from unsynchronized operations on a static branch counter that tracks zones with unaccepted memory, potentially causing warnings and instability. The vulnerability has a medium severity score and impacts availability but not confidentiality or integrity. The fix involves removing the problematic static branch optimization rather than adding complexity to its synchronization.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-38008 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/71dda1cb10702dc2859f00eb789b0502de2176a9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/74953f93f47a45296cc2a3fd04e2a3202ff3fa53 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/98fdd2f612e949c652693f6df00442c81037776d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fefc075182275057ce607effaa3daa9e6e3bdc73 (opens in a new tab)