CVE-2025-38206: Linux kernel · exfat: fix double free in delayed_free
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 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 5.15.0-1092.99~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1096.105~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1092.101~20.04.1 +32
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 4 Jul 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@6.14.0-1015.15~24.04.1?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. Ubuntu has released updated kernel packages addressing this and other vulnerabilities in the linux-hwe-edge kernel series. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions as provided by their distribution's security advisories. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A double free vulnerability in the exFAT filesystem implementation of the Linux kernel has been fixed. The flaw occurs in the delayed_free function path, where the exfat_free_upcase_table function may free the same memory twice. This issue has been addressed by setting the pointer to NULL after freeing it to prevent double free. The vulnerability affects multiple specific versions of the linux-hwe-edge kernel. A patch is available and has been released by Ubuntu as part of a broader Linux kernel security update.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38206 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38206 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/1f3d9724e16d62c7d42c67d6613b8512f2887c22 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/13d8de1b6568dcc31a95534ced16bc0c9a67bc15 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f3d9724e16d62c7d42c67d6613b8512f2887c22 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/66e84439ec2af776ce749e8540f8fdd257774152 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d3cef0e7a5c1aa6217c51faa9ce8ecac35d6e1fd (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7776-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7775-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7774-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7833-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7834-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7833-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7833-3 (opens in a new tab)