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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-38242: Linux kernel · mm: userfaultfd: fix race of userfaultfd_move and swap cache

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 6.14.0-1015.15~24.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 6.14.0-1015.15~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1014.14~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1007.7 +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 9 Jul 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
  • <6.14.0-1015.15~24.04.1
Fixed in
  • 6.14.0-1015.15~24.04.1
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

An official patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to resolve the race condition. The vendor advisory confirms that the issue has been fixed. Users should update their Linux kernel to the fixed versions as soon as possible. No additional mitigation steps are necessary beyond applying the official fix.

Description

A race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's userfaultfd subsystem related to the handling of swap cache entries has been fixed. The flaw involves a race between userfaultfd_move and swap cache operations that can lead to corrupted RSS counters and incorrect folio accounting. Although exploitation requires rare timing conditions, the issue can cause system instability and potentially compromise memory management integrity. The vulnerability has been assigned CVE-2025-38242 and is rated with a CVSS score of 7.8 (high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability). A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions.

References

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