CVE-2025-38538: dmaengine: nbpfaxi: Fix memory corruption in probe()

Published Aug 16, 2025
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

dmaengine: nbpfaxi: Fix memory corruption in probe()

The nbpf->chan[] array is allocated earlier in the nbpfprobe() function and it has "numchannels" elements. These three loops iterate one element farther than they should and corrupt memory.

The changes to the second loop are more involved. In this case, we're copying data from the irqbuf[] array into the nbpf->chan[] array. If the data in irqbuf[i] is the error IRQ then we skip it, so the iterators are not in sync. I added a check to ensure that we don't go beyond the end of the irqbuf[] array. I'm pretty sure this can't happen, but it seemed harmless to add a check.

On the other hand, after the loop has ended there is a check to ensure that the "chan" iterator is where we expect it to be. In the original code we went one element beyond the end of the array so the iterator wasn't in the correct place and it would always return -EINVAL. However, now it will always be in the correct place. I deleted the check since we know the result.

Affected Software

15 affected components
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=3.17<5.4.297
Linux Linux kernel>=5.5<5.10.241
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.190
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.1.147
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.100
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.40
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.15.8
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=6.16-rc6
Debian Debian Linux=11.0

Event History

Aug 16, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·11:12 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·11:12 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·12:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-38538?

CVE-2025-38538 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-38538?

To fix CVE-2025-38538, update your Linux kernel to the latest patched version provided by your distribution.

3

What components are affected by CVE-2025-38538?

CVE-2025-38538 affects the dmaengine subsystem in the Linux kernel.

4

What are the potential consequences of CVE-2025-38538?

The exploitation of CVE-2025-38538 could lead to memory corruption and potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code.

5

When was CVE-2025-38538 published?

CVE-2025-38538 was published in 2025 as part of the ongoing security maintenance of the Linux kernel.

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