CVE-2025-37996: Linux kernel · KVM: arm64: Fix uninitialized memcache pointer in user_mem_abort()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High · fixed in 6.14.0-1011.11~24.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.14.0-1011.11~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1014.15~24.04.1, 6.14.0-1010.10 +2
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 29 May 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
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 LTSlinux-aws-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-gcp-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-oem-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-oracle-6.14pkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlinux-raspi-realtimepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime?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: KVM: arm64: Fix uninitialized memcache pointer in user_mem_abort() Commit fce886a60207 ("KVM: arm64: Plumb the pKVM MMU in KVM") made the initialization of the local memcache variable in user_mem_abort() conditional, leaving a codepath where it is used uninitialized via kvm_pgtable_stage2_map(). This can fail on any path that requires a stage-2 allocation without transition via a permission fault or dirty logging. Fix this by making sure that memcache is always valid.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-37996 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-37996 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/157dbc4a321f5bb6f8b6c724d12ba720a90f1a7c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/157dbc4a321f5bb6f8b6c724d12ba720a90f1a7c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a26d50f8a4a5049e956984797b5d0dedea4bbb18 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7699-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7699-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7721-1 (opens in a new tab)