s390/pkey: Prevent overflow in size calculation for memdup_user()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/pkey: Prevent overflow in size calculation for memdup_user() Number of apqn target list entries contained in 'nr_apqns' variable is determined by userspace via an ioctl call so the result of the product in calculation of size passed to memdup_user() may overflow. In this case the actual size of the allocated area and the value describing it won't be in sync leading to various types of unpredictable behaviour later. Use a proper memdup_array_user() helper which returns an error if an overflow is detected. Note that it is different from when nr_apqns is initially zero - that case is considered valid and should be handled in subsequent pkey_handler implementations. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org).
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.4 and later | 5.15.187, 6.1.143, 6.6.96, 6.12.36, 6.15.5, 6.16 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.4 and later Fixed in 5.15.187, 6.1.143, 6.6.96, 6.12.36, 6.15.5, 6.16 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.4 to before 5.15.187; 5.16 to before 6.1.143; 6.2 to before 6.6.96; 6.7 to before 6.12.36; 6.13 to before 6.15.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.16 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.4 to before 5.15.187; 5.16 to before 6.1.143; 6.2 to before 6.6.96; 6.7 to before 6.12.36; 6.13 to before 6.15.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.16:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.16 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.187, 6.1.143, 6.6.96, 6.12.36, 6.15.5, 6.16
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-38257
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-wgwx-65v3-j243
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad1bdd24a02d5a8d119af8e4cd50933780a6d29f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/faa1ab4a23c42e34dc000ef4977b751d94d5148c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/88f3869649edbc4a13f6c2877091f81cd5a50f05
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f855b119e62b004a5044ed565f2a2b368c4d3f16
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/73483ca7e07a5e39bdf612eec9d3d293e8bef649
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7360ee47599af91a1d5f4e74d635d9408a54e489
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- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2025-38257 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-38257 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wgwx-65v3-j243 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-38257 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences