CVE-2025-38696: Linux kernel · MIPS: Don't crash in stack_top() for tasks without ABI or vDSO
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1097.104~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
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, 5.15.0-1114.123~20.04.1 +59
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Sep 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-7909-1 (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)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7933-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7938-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8028-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8031-1 (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: MIPS: Don't crash in stack_top() for tasks without ABI or vDSO Not all tasks have an ABI associated or vDSO mapped, for example kthreads never do. If such a task ever ends up calling stack_top(), it will derefence the NULL ABI pointer and crash. This can for example happen when using kunit: mips_stack_top+0x28/0xc0 arch_pick_mmap_layout+0x190/0x220 kunit_vm_mmap_init+0xf8/0x138 __kunit_add_resource+0x40/0xa8 kunit_vm_mmap+0x88/0xd8 usercopy_test_init+0xb8/0x240 kunit_try_run_case+0x5c/0x1a8 kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x28/0x50 kthread+0x118/0x240 ret_from_kernel_thread+0x14/0x1c Only dereference the ABI point if it is set. The GIC page is also included as it is specific to the vDSO. Also move the randomization adjustment into the same conditional.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-38696 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38696 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/e9f4a6b3421e936c3ee9d74710243897d74dbaa2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/24d098b6f69b0aa806ffcb3e18259bee31650b28 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b6839b572b503609b9b58bc6c04a816eefa0794 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/82d140f6aab5e89a9d3972697a0dbe1498752d9b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab18e48a503230d675e824a0d68a108bdff42503 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd90dbd196831f5c2620736dc221db2634cf1e8e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cddf47d20b0325dc8a4e57b833fe96e8f36c42a4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e78033e59444d257d095b73ce5d20625294f6ec2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e9f4a6b3421e936c3ee9d74710243897d74dbaa2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f22de2027b206ddfb8a075800bb5d0dacf2da4b8 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-1 (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)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7933-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7909-5 (opens in a new tab)