CVE-2025-38554 remediation guide
Linux Linux, linux kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: fix a UAF when vma->mm is freed after vma->vm_refcnt got dropped By inducing delays in the right places, Jann Horn created a reproducer for a hard to hit UAF issue that became possible after VMAs were allowed to be recycled by adding SLAB_TYPESAFE_BY_RCU to their cache. Race description is borrowed from Jann's discovery report: lock_vma_under_rcu() looks up a VMA locklessly with mas_walk() under rcu_read_lock(). At that point, the VMA may be concurrently freed, and it can be recycled by another process. vma_start_read()...
Identify the affected asset
Confirm whether Linux Linux, linux kernel is installed, record the deployed version and installation path, and identify exposed interfaces.
- Record the product name, package or appliance identifier, and installed version.
- Identify internet-facing, administrative, API, and internal access paths.
- Preserve the pre-change configuration and relevant service logs.
Validate the affected-version match
Compare the deployed version with the affected range: >= 3104138517fc66aad21f4a2487bb572e9fc2e3ec < 6e88fe54721dee17d3496bc998f0c7d243896348, >= 3104138517fc66aad21f4a2487bb572e9fc2e3ec < 1bcd236a2536a451e385f8d6d2bb589689ec812f, >= 3104138517fc66aad21f4a2487bb572e9fc2e3ec < 9bbffee67ffd16360179327b57f3b1245579ef08, >= 6.15, >= 6.15 < 6.15.10, >= 6.16 < 6.16.1. Treat incomplete inventory results as unresolved.
Prioritize with independent signals
The CVSS severity warrants an early asset and exposure review. Combine this signal with asset criticality, exposure, compensating controls, and business impact.
Apply supported remediation
Follow the vendor advisory or supported update path. Current fixed-version status: 6.15.10, 6.16.1. Preserve configuration and rollback material before change.
Verify the result
Confirm the resulting version, service health, authentication and access paths, monitoring coverage, and relevant security logs.
- Confirm the expected version and package state.
- Run a functional health check for critical service paths.
- Review authentication, error, application, and security monitoring logs.
- Reassess exposure if the supported fix cannot be applied.
Operational boundary
This page does not replace the vendor advisory, support contract, change-management process, or recovery plan. Do not infer that an asset is unaffected from an incomplete inventory query or a missing fixed-version field.