CVE-2025-38614: Linux kernel · eventpoll: Fix semi-unbounded recursion
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
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
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (Linux) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|
- 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:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Aug 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| 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
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/71379495ab70eaba19224bd71b5b9b399eb85e04 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b13b033062824495554e836a1ff5f85ccf6b039 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2a0c0c974bea9619c6f41794775ae4b97530e0e6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a2125962c42d5336ca0495a9ce4cb38a63e9161 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ea5f97dbdcb1651581a22bd10afd2f0dd9dc11d6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3542c90797bc3ab83ebab54b737d751cf3682036 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2e467a48287c868818085aa35389a224d226732 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-032379.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)