CVE-2025-38466: Linux kernel · perf: Revert to requiring CAP_SYS_ADMIN for uprobes
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, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 14% 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 +62
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 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.
Patches and advisories
- 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-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)
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: perf: Revert to requiring CAP_SYS_ADMIN for uprobes Jann reports that uprobes can be used destructively when used in the middle of an instruction. The kernel only verifies there is a valid instruction at the requested offset, but due to variable instruction length cannot determine if this is an instruction as seen by the intended execution stream. Additionally, Mark Rutland notes that on architectures that mix data in the text segment (like arm64), a similar things can be done if the data word is 'mistaken' for an instruction. As such, require CAP_SYS_ADMIN for uprobes.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38466 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38466 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/ba677dbe77af5ffe6204e0f3f547f3ba059c6302 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/183bdb89af1b5193b1d1d9316986053b15ca6fa4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8e8bf7bc6aa6f583336c2fda280b6cea0aed5612 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a0a8009083e569b5526c64f7d3f2a62baca95164 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba677dbe77af5ffe6204e0f3f547f3ba059c6302 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0aec35f861fa746ca45aa816161c74352e6ada8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d5074256b642cdeb46a70ce2f15193e766edca68 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d7ef1afd5b3f43f4924326164cee5397b66abd9c (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-7879-1 (opens in a new tab)