Actively exploited in the wild
Linux Kernel Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) Race Condition Vulnerability
Linux - Kernel · Listed in the CISA KEV since 2025-09-04. This indicates confirmed attacks in production environments.
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
CVE-2025-38352
HighCVSS 7.8KEVExploitation Probability (EPSS)
Elevated risk68th percentile - higher than 68% of all known CVEs
Summary
A race condition was found in the Linux kernel between handle_posix_cpu_timers() and posix_cpu_timer_del(). An exiting non-autoreaping task can be reaped by its parent after unlock_task_sighand(), causing synchronization issues.
Risk Assessment
The organization faces potential system instability, leading to unpredictable process behavior and possible crashes.
Recommendation
Immediately update the Linux kernel to a version containing the fix that adds a tsk->exit_state check in run_posix_cpu_timers().
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
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- CVE-2026-90044Unknown
In the Linux kernel USB gadget f_fs driver, a use-after-free exists in the AIO error path. When ffs_epfile_io() fails with an error other than -EIOCBQUEUED, the io_data structure is freed, but the kiocb cancel function remains armed and points to the freed pointer. A concurrent cancel (e.g., sys_io_cancel()) can cause a use-after-free. The fix safely disarms the cancellation via kiocb->ki_complete() and returns -EIOCBQUEUED.
- CVE-2026-90043Unknown
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- CVE-2026-90042Unknown
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- CVE-2026-90041Unknown
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In the Linux kernel, NFSD admin state-revocation handlers (unlock_filesystem, NFSD_CMD_UNLOCK_FILESYSTEM, NFSD_CMD_UNLOCK_EXPORT) only check nn->nfsd_serv, which is set before nn->conf_id_hashtbl is allocated. This leads to a NULL dereference when the server has not yet started.
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- CVE-2026-90037Unknown
In the Linux kernel, an nfs4_openowner left on nn->close_lru holds only a raw pointer to its nfs4_client. When the laundromat reaps entries, drops client_lock and calls nfs4_put_stid(), a concurrent force_expire_client() can free the client, causing a use-after-free.
Original NVD description (English source)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: posix-cpu-timers: fix race between handle_posix_cpu_timers() and posix_cpu_timer_del() If an exiting non-autoreaping task has already passed exit_notify() and calls handle_posix_cpu_timers() from IRQ, it can be reaped by its parent or debugger right after unlock_task_sighand(). If a concurrent posix_cpu_timer_del() runs at that moment, it won't be able to detect timer->it.cpu.firing != 0: cpu_timer_task_rcu() and/or lock_task_sighand() will fail. Add the tsk->exit_state check into run_posix_cpu_timers() to fix this. This fix is not needed if CONFIG_POSIX_CPU_TIMERS_TASK_WORK=y, because exit_task_work() is called before exit_notify(). But the check still makes sense, task_work_add(&tsk->posix_cputimers_work.work) will fail anyway in this case.

