CVE-2025-38038: Linux kernel · cpufreq: amd-pstate: Remove unnecessary driver_lock in set_boost
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1007.7, 6.14.0-1016.17~24.04.1 +3
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 18 Jun 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: 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 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.8.0-136.136?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.8.0-1060.63?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14@6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.8.0-1062.69?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11@6.11.0-1018.18~24.04.1?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 should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The fix removes the unnecessary driver-wide lock in the amd-pstate set_boost function, preventing the deadlock condition. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions as provided by their Linux distribution vendors, such as the Ubuntu security notice USN-7769-1. No additional mitigation actions are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's amd-pstate CPU frequency scaling driver involved an unnecessary driver-wide lock in the set_boost function. This mutex acquisition could collide with another mutex in the mode-switch path, potentially causing a deadlock. The issue has been resolved by removing the unnecessary lock. The vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions and has a medium severity rating with a CVSS score of 5.5. A patch is available to address this issue.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38038 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38038 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/db1cafc77aaaf871509da06f4a864e9af6d6791f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/61e931ee145eeab8196e585ff4334870b130b744 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd347d071713234586762d79c5a691785e9be418 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/db1cafc77aaaf871509da06f4a864e9af6d6791f (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7770-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7771-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7789-2 (opens in a new tab)