Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-38077

Memory Safety in Linux Kernel 5.11 – 5.15.185

Published
18 June 2025
Modified
17 June 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0019 8th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-38077 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked at the 8th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: platform/x86: dell-wmi-sysman: Avoid buffer overflow in current_password_store() If the 'buf' array received from the user contains an empty string, the 'length' variable will be zero. Accessing the 'buf' array element…

more

with index 'length - 1' will result in a buffer overflow. Add a check for an empty string. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-36934Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2025-37947Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2024-47698Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2025-37810Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2024-27436Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2024-26965Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2024-26736Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-3090Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2025-38068Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2024-53197Same product: Debian Debian Linux

Affected Assets

linux
linux kernel
6.15 · 5.11 — 5.15.185 · 5.16 — 6.1.141 · 6.2 — 6.6.93
debian
debian linux
11.0

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)
  • SI-10 Information Input Validation
  • SI-16 Memory Protection
  • CM-7 Least Functionality
Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Directly requires validation of user-supplied input (the 'buf' string) before use, preventing the zero-length empty-string case that triggers the out-of-bounds write.

prevent

Applies memory-protection mechanisms that can block or contain the CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in kernel address space.

prevent

Restricts availability of the writable sysfs attribute (current_password_store) to only the minimal set of users/processes that require it, reducing the attack surface for the flawed handler.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect and prevent out-of-bounds write defects.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates practices that prevent out-of-bounds writes.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory handling.

prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles reduce the likelihood of buffer overflows.

prevents

Secure coding directly addresses out-of-bounds writes through language choice and coding standards.

prevents

Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.

References