CVE Database
/

CVE-2025-38670

Back to search

CVE-2025-38670

Published: Aug 22, 2025

Modified: May 23, 2026

PUBLISHED

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm64/entry: Mask DAIF in cpu_switch_to(), call_on_irq_stack() `cpu_switch_to()` and `call_on_irq_stack()` manipulate SP to change to different stacks along with the Shadow Call Stack if it is enabled. Those two stack changes cannot be done atomically and both functions can be interrupted by SErrors or Debug Exceptions which, though unlikely, is very much broken : if interrupted, we can end up with mismatched stacks and Shadow Call Stack leading to clobbered stacks. In `cpu_switch_to()`, it can happen when SP_EL0 points to the new task, but x18 stills points to the old task's SCS. When the interrupt handler tries to save the task's SCS pointer, it will save the old task SCS pointer (x18) into the new task struct (pointed to by SP_EL0), clobbering it. In `call_on_irq_stack()`, it can happen when switching from the task stack to the IRQ stack and when switching back. In both cases, we can be interrupted when the SCS pointer points to the IRQ SCS, but SP points to the task stack. The nested interrupt handler pushes its return addresses on the IRQ SCS. It then detects that SP points to the task stack, calls `call_on_irq_stack()` and clobbers the task SCS pointer with the IRQ SCS pointer, which it will also use ! This leads to tasks returning to addresses on the wrong SCS, or even on the IRQ SCS, triggering kernel panics via CONFIG_VMAP_STACK or FPAC if enabled. This is possible on a default config, but unlikely. However, when enabling CONFIG_ARM64_PSEUDO_NMI, DAIF is unmasked and instead the GIC is responsible for filtering what interrupts the CPU should receive based on priority. Given the goal of emulating NMIs, pseudo-NMIs can be received by the CPU even in `cpu_switch_to()` and `call_on_irq_stack()`, possibly *very* frequently depending on the system configuration and workload, leading to unpredictable kernel panics. Completely mask DAIF in `cpu_switch_to()` and restore it when returning. Do the same in `call_on_irq_stack()`, but restore and mask around the branch. Mask DAIF even if CONFIG_SHADOW_CALL_STACK is not enabled for consistency of behaviour between all configurations. Introduce and use an assembly macro for saving and masking DAIF, as the existing one saves but only masks IF.

VendorProductVersions

Linux

Linux

affected
3f225f29c69c13ce1cbdb1d607a42efeef080056 - < f7e0231eeaa33245c649fac0303cf97209605446
affected
402d2b1d54b7085d0c3bfd01fd50c2701dde64b3 - < 407047893a64399f2d2390ff35cc6061107d805d
affected
4403c7b7e5e1ad09a266b6e399fd7bf97931508e - < a6b0cb523eaa01efe8a3f76ced493ba60674c6e6
affected
59b37fe52f49955791a460752c37145f1afdcad1 - < 9433a5f437b0948d6a2d8a02ad7a42ab7ca27a61
affected
59b37fe52f49955791a460752c37145f1afdcad1 - < 708fd522b86d2a9544c34ec6a86fa3fc23336525

+7 more versions

Linux

Linux

affected
6.3
unaffected
0 - < 6.3
unaffected
5.10.210 - <= 5.10.*
unaffected
5.15.190 - <= 5.15.*
unaffected
6.1.149 - <= 6.1.*

+4 more versions

Security Training

Train your team to recognize and prevent security threats with our comprehensive security awareness program.

Start Training

Vulnerability Scanning

Discover vulnerabilities in your applications and infrastructure before attackers do.

Scan Now
CVE-2025-38670 - Security Vulnerability | QwikSec