CVE-2025-38078: Linux kernel · ALSA: pcm: Fix race of buffer access at PCM OSS layer
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1090.97~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 16:39 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1090.97~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1094.103~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1114.123~20.04.1 +64
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.
Patches and advisories
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7711-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-2 (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)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-azure-6.11pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11?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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: pcm: Fix race of buffer access at PCM OSS layer The PCM OSS layer tries to clear the buffer with the silence data at initialization (or reconfiguration) of a stream with the explicit call of snd_pcm_format_set_silence() with runtime->dma_area. But this may lead to a UAF because the accessed runtime->dma_area might be freed concurrently, as it's performed outside the PCM ops. For avoiding it, move the code into the PCM core and perform it inside the buffer access lock, so that it won't be changed during the operation.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38078 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38078 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/93a81ca0657758b607c3f4ba889ae806be9beb73 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/10217da9644ae75cea7330f902c35fc5ba78bbbf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/74d90875f3d43f3eff0e9861c4701418795d3455 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8170d8ec4efd0be352c14cb61f374e30fb0c2a25 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/93a81ca0657758b607c3f4ba889ae806be9beb73 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/afa56c960fcb4db37f2e3399f28e9402e4e1f470 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf85e49aaf3a3c5775ea87369ea5f159c2148db4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0e05a76fc727929524ef24a19c302e6dd40233f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f3e14d706ec18faf19f5a6e75060e140fea05d4a (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7711-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7704-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7712-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7769-1 (opens in a new tab)