CVE-2025-38078
Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-06-18

Last updated on: 2025-12-17

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ALSA: pcm: Fix race of buffer access at PCM OSS layer The PCM OSS layer tries to clear the buffer with the silence data at initialization (or reconfiguration) of a stream with the explicit call of snd_pcm_format_set_silence() with runtime->dma_area. But this may lead to a UAF because the accessed runtime->dma_area might be freed concurrently, as it's performed outside the PCM ops. For avoiding it, move the code into the PCM core and perform it inside the buffer access lock, so that it won't be changed during the operation.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-06-18
Last Modified
2025-12-17
Generated
2026-05-06
AI Q&A
2025-06-18
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 15 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel to 5.4.294 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.5 (inc) to 5.10.238 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.11 (inc) to 5.15.185 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.16 (inc) to 6.1.141 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.2 (inc) to 6.6.93 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.7 (inc) to 6.12.31 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.13 (inc) to 6.14.9 (exc)
linux linux_kernel 6.15
linux linux_kernel 6.15
linux linux_kernel 6.15
linux linux_kernel 6.15
linux linux_kernel 6.15
linux linux_kernel 6.15
linux linux_kernel 6.15
debian debian_linux 11.0
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-362 The product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.
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AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability is a race condition in the Linux kernel's ALSA PCM OSS layer. When the PCM OSS layer tries to clear the audio buffer with silence data during stream initialization or reconfiguration, it calls snd_pcm_format_set_silence() on runtime->dma_area. However, this memory area might be freed concurrently because the operation happens outside the PCM core's buffer access lock, leading to a use-after-free (UAF) condition. The fix moves this operation inside the PCM core and under the buffer access lock to prevent concurrent changes during the operation.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can lead to a use-after-free condition in the Linux kernel's audio subsystem, which may cause system instability, crashes, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges by exploiting the race condition in buffer access.


What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?

To mitigate this vulnerability, update the Linux kernel to a version where the ALSA PCM OSS layer race condition has been fixed. This fix involves moving the buffer clearing code into the PCM core and performing it inside the buffer access lock to prevent use-after-free conditions.


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