Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/nfs/read: fix double...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fs/nfs/read: fix double-unlock bug in nfs_return_empty_folio()
Sometimes, when a file was read while it was being truncated by
another NFS client, the kernel could deadlock because folio_unlock()
was called twice, and the second call would XOR back the PG_locked
flag.
Most of the time (depending on the timing of the truncation), nobody
notices the problem because folio_unlock() gets called three times,
which flips PG_locked back off:
- vfs_read, nfs_read_folio, ... nfs_read_add_folio,
nfs_return_empty_folio - vfs_read, nfs_read_folio, ... netfs_read_collection,
netfs_unlock_abandoned_read_pages - vfs_read, ... nfs_do_read_folio, nfs_read_add_folio,
nfs_return_empty_folio
The problem is that nfs_read_add_folio() is not supposed to unlock the
folio if fscache is enabled, and a nfs_netfs_folio_unlock() check is
missing in nfs_return_empty_folio().
Rarely this leads to a warning in netfs_read_collection():
------------[ cut here ]------------
R=0000031c: folio 10 is not locked
WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 29 at fs/netfs/read_collect.c:133 netfs_read_collection+0x7c0/0xf00
[...]
Workqueue: events_unbound netfs_read_collection_worker
RIP: 0010:netfs_read_collection+0x7c0/0xf00
[...]
Call Trace:
netfs_read_collection_worker+0x67/0x80
process_one_work+0x12e/0x2c0
worker_thread+0x295/0x3a0
Most of the time, however, processes just get stuck forever in
folio_wait_bit_common(), waiting for PG_locked to disappear, which
never happens because nobody is really holding the folio lock.
Impact
CVE-2025-38338 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-38338? CVE-2025-38338 is a high-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38338? CVE-2025-38338 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-38338? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38338 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38338 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38338 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-38338 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.