CVE-2025-38438: Linux kernel · ASoC: SOF: Intel: hda: Use devm_kstrdup() to avoid memleak.
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 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 6.14.0-1017.17~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1020.21~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1016.16 +2
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 25 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?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.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The fix involves using devm_kstrdup() to properly manage memory allocation and avoid leaks. Users should update their Linux kernel to versions including this fix. No additional mitigation actions are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ASoC SOF Intel HDA driver was resolved by using devm_kstrdup() to properly manage memory allocation. The issue involved sof_pdata->tplg_filename potentially being overwritten, causing unreferenced memory objects detected by kmemleak. This vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions and has a medium severity with no confidentiality or integrity impact but causes availability issues due to memory leaks. A patch is available and has been incorporated in Linux kernel updates.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38438 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38438 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/6c038b58a2dc5a008c7e7a1297f5aaa4deaaaa7e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/58ecf51af12cb32b890858b52b2c34e80590c74a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/68397fda2caa90e99a7c0bcb2cf604e42ef3b91f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c038b58a2dc5a008c7e7a1297f5aaa4deaaaa7e (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7880-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7934-1 (opens in a new tab)