Skip to main content
VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-38614: Linux kernel · eventpoll: Fix semi-unbounded recursion

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0
Compare

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in f2e467a48287c868818085aa35389a224d226732 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 12:50 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Thin evidence

One scorer or none
CVSS scores by source
CNA (Linux)CVSS 3.17.8
CISA SSVC
Exploitation
No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
Automatable
Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
Technical impact
Total control over the software or total information disclosure

CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-15.

Patch
Available – fixed in f2e467a48287c868818085aa35389a224d226732, ea5f97dbdcb1651581a22bd10afd2f0dd9dc11d6, 71379495ab70eaba19224bd71b5b9b399eb85e04 +9
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 19 Aug 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: 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 10 Nov 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • >=2.6.32.30 <2.6.33
  • >=2.6.33.8 <2.6.34
  • >=2.6.34.10 <2.6.35
  • >=2.6.35.12 <2.6.36
  • >=2.6.37.3 <2.6.38
Fixed in
  • f2e467a48287c868818085aa35389a224d226732
  • ea5f97dbdcb1651581a22bd10afd2f0dd9dc11d6
  • 71379495ab70eaba19224bd71b5b9b399eb85e04
  • 3542c90797bc3ab83ebab54b737d751cf3682036
  • 7a2125962c42d5336ca0495a9ce4cb38a63e9161
  • 2a0c0c974bea9619c6f41794775ae4b97530e0e6
  • 2.6.38
  • 2.6.36
  • 2.6.35
  • 2.6.34
  • 2.6.33
  • 1b13b033062824495554e836a1ff5f85ccf6b039
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • =2.6.38
Fixed in–

AI-suggested

A fix is available and has been applied in Linux kernel versions 2.6.34 through 2.6.38 and corresponding commits. Users and administrators should upgrade to these fixed versions to mitigate the vulnerability. No additional mitigations are specified or required beyond applying the official patches.

Description

CVE-2025-38614 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's eventpoll subsystem that allows semi-unbounded recursion due to insufficient depth checks in epoll instance graphs. This flaw permits recursion depths of roughly 500, potentially leading to denial of service or other impacts. The issue arises because existing recursion depth checks do not fully consider upward paths or multiple downward paths of different lengths. The vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions from 2.6.32.30 up to and including 2.6.38. A fix has been implemented to properly limit the depth of epoll instance graphs and prevent excessive recursion.

References

Community reviews

Loading reviews…