CVE-2025-38563

7.8 HIGH
Published: August 19, 2025 Modified: January 08, 2026

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/core: Prevent VMA split of buffer mappings The perf mmap code is careful about mmap()'ing the user page with the ringbuffer and additionally the auxiliary buffer, when the event supports it. Once the first mapping is established, subsequent mapping have to use the same offset and the same size in both cases. The reference counting for the ringbuffer and the auxiliary buffer depends on this being correct. Though perf does not prevent that a related mapping is split via mmap(2), munmap(2) or mremap(2). A split of a VMA results in perf_mmap_open() calls, which take reference counts, but then the subsequent perf_mmap_close() calls are not longer fulfilling the offset and size checks. This leads to reference count leaks. As perf already has the requirement for subsequent mappings to match the initial mapping, the obvious consequence is that VMA splits, caused by resizing of a mapping or partial unmapping, have to be prevented. Implement the vm_operations_struct::may_split() callback and return unconditionally -EINVAL. That ensures that the mapping offsets and sizes cannot be changed after the fact. Remapping to a different fixed address with the same size is still possible as it takes the references for the new mapping and drops those of the old mapping.

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CVSS v3.x Details

0.0 Low Medium High Critical 10.0
Vector String
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Patch Vendor Advisory Exploit Third Party Advisory
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3bd518cc7ea61076bcd725e36ff0e690754977c0
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/65311aad4c808bedad0c05d9bb8b06c47dae73eb
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6757a31a8e295ae4f01717a954afda173f25a121
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7b84cb58d1f0aa07656802eae24689566e5f5b1b
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b024d7b56c77191cde544f838debb7f8451cd0d6
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d52451a9210f2e5a079ba052918c93563518a9ff
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4346ffec2c44d6b0be834d59b20632b5bb5729e
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e529888b7e8092912dd8789bdfc76685ccd2ff5f
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ff668930871e0198c7f4e325058b8b7c286787bd
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Patch
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-873/
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00007.html
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Third Party Advisory Mailing List
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Third Party Advisory Mailing List

12 reference(s) from NVD

Quick Stats

CVSS v3 Score
7.8 / 10.0
EPSS (Exploit Probability)
0.0%
5th percentile
Exploitation Status
Not in CISA KEV

Affected Vendors

debian linux