CVE-2025-38055: Linux kernel · perf/x86/intel: Fix segfault with PEBS-via-PT with sample_freq
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 14 Nov 2026, 20:43 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
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
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
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel source code. Users should apply the official kernel updates containing this fix once available. Since no vendor advisory or patch links are provided, check the Linux kernel mailing lists or official repositories for the patch. Until patched, avoid using PEBS-via-PT with sample frequency to prevent triggering the segfault.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's perf subsystem for x86 Intel processors causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference (segfault) when using PEBS-via-PT with a sample frequency instead of a sample period. This occurs because the code incorrectly assumes all pebs_enabled bits represent counter indexes, which is not always true. The issue has been fixed by correcting the handling of the mask of counter bits in the affected function.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-38055 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b1874a5b1173fbcb2185ab828f4c33d067e551e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/99bcd91fabada0dbb1d5f0de44532d8008db93c6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca51db23166767a8445deb8331c9b8d5205d9287 (opens in a new tab)