CVE-2025-40304: Linux kernel · fbdev: Add bounds checking in bit_putcs to fix vmalloc-out-of-bounds
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1103.110~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1110.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1114.123~20.04.1 +70
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 8 Dec 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 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=questingOther 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: fbdev: Add bounds checking in bit_putcs to fix vmalloc-out-of-bounds Add bounds checking to prevent writes past framebuffer boundaries when rendering text near screen edges. Return early if the Y position is off-screen and clip image height to screen boundary. Break from the rendering loop if the X position is off-screen. When clipping image width to fit the screen, update the character count to match the clipped width to prevent buffer size mismatches. Without the character count update, bit_putcs_aligned and bit_putcs_unaligned receive mismatched parameters where the buffer is allocated for the clipped width but cnt reflects the original larger count, causing out-of-bounds writes.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-40304 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-40304 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/3637d34b35b287ab830e66048841ace404382b67 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/15ba9acafb0517f8359ca30002c189a68ddbb939 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1943b69e87b0ab35032d47de0a7fca9a3d1d6fc1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d1359e11674ed4274934eac8a71877ae5ae7bbb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3637d34b35b287ab830e66048841ace404382b67 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/86df8ade88d290725554cefd03101ecd0fbd3752 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/996bfaa7372d6718b6d860bdf78f6618e850c702 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ebc0730b490c7f27340b1222e01dd106e820320d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f0982400648a3e00580253e0c48e991f34d2684c (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8030-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8048-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8029-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8096-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8100-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8095-2 (opens in a new tab)