CVE-2025-38563

HIGH

Linux Kernel - Reference Count Leak via VMA Split of Perf Buffer Mappings

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/core: Prevent VMA split of buffer mappings The perf mmap code is careful about mmap()'ing the user page with the ringbuffer and additionally the auxiliary buffer, when the event supports it. Once the first mapping is established, subsequent mapping have to use the same offset and the same size in both cases. The reference counting for the ringbuffer and the auxiliary buffer depends on this being correct. Though perf does not prevent that a related mapping is split via mmap(2), munmap(2) or mremap(2). A split of a VMA results in perf_mmap_open() calls, which take reference counts, but then the subsequent perf_mmap_close() calls are not longer fulfilling the offset and size checks. This leads to reference count leaks. As perf already has the requirement for subsequent mappings to match the initial mapping, the obvious consequence is that VMA splits, caused by resizing of a mapping or partial unmapping, have to be prevented. Implement the vm_operations_struct::may_split() callback and return unconditionally -EINVAL. That ensures that the mapping offsets and sizes cannot be changed after the fact. Remapping to a different fixed address with the same size is still possible as it takes the references for the new mapping and drops those of the old mapping.

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0003
EPSS Percentile 7.8%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

Status published
Products (30)
debian/debian_linux 11.0
linux/Kernel 4.1.0 - 5.4.297linux
linux/Kernel 5.11.0 - 5.15.190linux
linux/Kernel 5.16.0 - 6.1.148linux
linux/Kernel 5.5.0 - 5.10.241linux
linux/Kernel 6.13.0 - 6.15.10linux
linux/Kernel 6.16.0 - 6.16.1linux
linux/Kernel 6.2.0 - 6.6.102linux
linux/Kernel 6.7.0 - 6.12.42linux
Linux/Linux < 4.1
... and 20 more
Published Aug 19, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026