CVE-2025-38703
CVE-2025-38703 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (5th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-26766
- Weakness: CWE-416
- Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/xe: Make dma-fences compliant with the safe access rules Xe can free some of the data pointed to by the dma-fences it exports. Most notably the timeline name can get freed if userspace closes the associated submit queue. At the same time the fence could have been exported to a third party (for example a sync_fence fd) which will then cause an use- after-free on subsequent access. To make this safe we need to make the driver compliant with the newly documented dma-fence rules. Driver has to ensure a RCU grace period between signalling a fence and freeing any data pointed to by said fence. For the timeline name we simply make the queue be freed via kfree_rcu and for the shared lock associated with multiple queues we add a RCU grace period before freeing the per GT structure holding the lock.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-38703?
- In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/xe: Make dma-fences compliant with the safe access rules Xe can free some of the data pointed to by the dma-fences it exports. Most notably the timeline name can get freed if userspace closes the associated submit queue. At the same time the fence could have been exported to a third party (for example a sync_fence fd) which will then cause an use- after-free on subsequent access. To make this safe we need to make the driver compliant with the newly documented dma-fence rules. Driver has to ensure a RCU grace period between signalling a fence and freeing any data pointed to by said fence. For the timeline name we simply make the queue be freed via kfree_rcu and for the shared lock associated with multiple queues we add a RCU grace period before freeing the per GT structure holding the lock.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38703?
- CVE-2025-38703 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2025-38703 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (5th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2025-38703?
- CVE-2025-38703 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-38703?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- Does CVE-2025-38703 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2025-38703 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-26766.
- When was CVE-2025-38703 published?
- CVE-2025-38703 was published on 2025-09-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/683b0e397dad9f26a42dcacf6f7f545a77ce6c06
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6bd90e700b4285e6a7541e00f969cab0d696adde
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b17fcce70733c211cb5dabf54f4f9491920b1d92
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba37807d08bae67de6139346a85650cab5f6145a
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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