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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-38038: Linux kernel · cpufreq: amd-pstate: Remove unnecessary driver_lock in set_boost

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

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, 16:39 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
5.5Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
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:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 18 Jun 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
  • 6.5.0-9.9 – 6.8.0-147.147
59 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.5.0-1008.8 – 6.8.0-1067.70
55 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
Fixed in
  • 6.14.0-1013.13~24.04.1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • 6.5.0-1007.7 – 6.8.0-1071.79
46 affected builds
Fixed in–
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–

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

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