CVE-2025-38396

fs: export anon_inode_make_secure_inode() and fix secretmem LSM bypass

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: July 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM UTC
Updated: August 5, 2026 at 12:44 PM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsLinux KernelDebian Linux

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs: export anon_inode_make_secure_inode() and fix secretmem LSM bypass Export anon_inode_make_secure_inode() to allow KVM guest_memfd to create anonymous inodes with proper security context. This replaces the current pattern of calling alloc_anon_inode() followed by inode_init_security_anon() for creating security context manually. This change also fixes a security regression in secretmem where the S_PRIVATE flag was not cleared after alloc_anon_inode(), causing LSM/SELinux checks to be bypassed for secretmem file descriptors. As guest_memfd currently resides in the KVM module, we need to export this symbol for use outside the core kernel. In the future, guest_memfd might be moved to core-mm, at which point the symbols no longer would have to be exported. When/if that happens is still unclear.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

6.0 ≤ v < 6.1.1466.0 ≤ v < 6.12.376.0 ≤ v < 6.15.66.0 ≤ v < 6.166.0 ≤ v < 6.6.976.13 ≤ v < 6.15.66.2 ≤ v < 6.6.976.7 ≤ v < 6.12.372bfe15c5261212130f1a71f32a300bcf426443d46.16 rc16.16 rc26.16 rc36.16 rc4
Vendor states this is fixed in 66d29d757c968d2bee9124816da5d718eb352959 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6ca45ea48530332a4ba09595767bd26d3232743b (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in cbe4134ea4bc493239786220bd69cb8a13493190 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in e3eed01347721cd7a8819568161c91d538fbf229 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f94c422157f3e43dd31990567b3e5d54b3e5b32b (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.0 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.146 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.37 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.15.6 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.97 (unaffected)

References (6)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/66d29d757c968d2bee9124816da5d718eb352959
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6ca45ea48530332a4ba09595767bd26d3232743b
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cbe4134ea4bc493239786220bd69cb8a13493190
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3eed01347721cd7a8819568161c91d538fbf229
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f94c422157f3e43dd31990567b3e5d54b3e5b32b
Third Party Advisory
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.html

CVSS

7.8HIGHLinux
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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