CVE-2025-38416

—

CVSS 3.1

7.8 high

EPSS

<1%p9

Published

Jul 25, 2025 (Jul 25, 2025)

Modified

Jul 30, 2026

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: NFC: nci: uart: Set tty->disc_data only in success path Setting tty->disc_data before opening the NCI device means we need to clean it up on error paths. This also opens some short window if device starts sending data, even before NCIUARTSETDRIVER IOCTL succeeded (broken hardware?). Close the window by exposing tty->disc_data only on the success path, when opening of the NCI device and try_module_get() succeeds. The code differs in error path in one aspect: tty->disc_data won't be ever assigned thus NULL-ified. This however should not be relevant difference, because of "tty->disc_data=NULL" in nci_uart_tty_open().

Vendors: linux debian
Products: linux kernel, debian linux
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

NVD CVE.org GitHub PoCs EPSS (0.2%)

In the news1 stories

ZDI-26-685: Linux Kernel NFC NCI UART Driver Race Condition Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

ZDI discloses a race condition in the Linux kernel NFC NCI UART driver (CVE-2025-38416, CVSS 8.8) allowing local low-privileged attackers to escalate privileges.

ZDI advisory ZDI-26-685 covers a race condition vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NFC NCI UART driver, tracked as CVE-2025-38416 with a CVSS score of 8.8. A local attacker with the ability to execute low-privileged code can exploit the race to escalate privileges on affected systems. Exposure is limited to systems where the NFC NCI UART driver is present, and no exploitation is reported.

ZDI Published AdvisoriesSep 14, 05:00 UTC · 1d agoVulnerability CVE-2025-38416