CVE-2025-38565: Linux kernel · perf/core: Exit early on perf_mmap() fail
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1097.104~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
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 5.15.0-1097.104~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1102.111~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1097.106~20.04.1 +48
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 19 Aug 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
An official patch is available and should be applied to affected linux-aws kernel versions. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this and other kernel vulnerabilities have been fixed. Users should update their kernel packages to the fixed versions as provided by their Linux distribution. No additional mitigations are specified or required beyond applying the patch.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's perf subsystem was resolved where the perf_mmap() function failed to properly handle buffer allocation failures. Specifically, when perf_mmap() fails to allocate a buffer, it still calls the event_mapped() callback, which on x86 can incorrectly increment a reference counter without a corresponding decrement, causing a reference count leak. This flaw was fixed by ensuring an early exit on failure to prevent the leak.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38565 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38565 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/07091aade394f690e7b655578140ef84d0e8d7b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/07091aade394f690e7b655578140ef84d0e8d7b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/163b0d1a209fe0df5476c1df2330ca12b55abf92 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/27d44145bd576bbef9bf6165bcd78128ec3e6cbd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ff8521f30c4c2fcd4e88bd7640486602bf8a650 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/92043120a2e992800580855498ab8507e1b22db9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f41e9eba77bf97626e04296dc5677d02816d2432 (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-7909-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7879-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7910-2 (opens in a new tab)