CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2025-38696 — Linux Linux Kernel security vulnerability

Medium CVSS 5.5

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: MIPS: Don't crash in stack_top() for tasks without ABI or vDSO Not all tasks have an ABI associated or vDSO mapped, for example kthreads never do. If such a task ever ends up calling stack_top(), it will derefence the NULL ABI pointer and crash. This can for example happen when using kunit: mips_stack_top+0x28/0xc0 arch_pick_mmap_layout+0x190/0x220 kunit_vm_mmap_init+0xf8/0x138 __kunit_add_resource+0x40/0xa8 kunit_vm_mmap+0x88/0xd8 usercopy_test_init+0xb8/0x240 kunit_try_run_case+0x5c/0x1a8 kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x28/0x50 kthread+0x118/0x240 ret_from_kernel_thread+0x14/0x1c Only dereference the ABI point if it is set. The GIC page is also included as it is specific to the vDSO. Also move the randomization adjustment into the same conditional.

Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Published
2025-09-04
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
linux/kernel
Weaknesses
CWE-476

Affected products

  • linux / linux_kernel
  • linux / linux_kernel / 4.19

Showing 2 representative product identities from 13 source matches. Confirm exact affected versions with the linked vendor and NVD evidence.

Matched remediation archetype

Buffer bounds, memory safety, and memory corruption

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Check exposure

  • Identify affected native-code versions, build flags, architectures, parsers, codecs, drivers, and input paths in all shipped artifacts.
  • Determine whether untrusted data reaches the affected routine and the process privilege, sandbox, and network exposure.
  • Confirm statically linked, vendored, firmware, and platform-provided copies, not only package-manager records.

Remediate safely

  • Apply the maintained upstream correction or replace the affected component, then rebuild every dependent artifact from clean inputs.
  • Adopt bounds-checked interfaces, validated sizes and integer conversions, clear ownership, and memory-safe components where practical.
  • Enable supported compiler and runtime hardening and add sanitized tests and fuzz regression seeds derived from non-weaponized fixtures.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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