Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/imagination: Fix kernel...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/imagination: Fix kernel crash when hard resetting the GPU
The GPU hard reset sequence calls pm_runtime_force_suspend() and
pm_runtime_force_resume(), which according to their documentation should
only be used during system-wide PM transitions to sleep states.
The main issue though is that depending on some internal runtime PM
state as seen by pm_runtime_force_suspend() (whether the usage count is
<= 1), pm_runtime_force_resume() might not resume the device unless
needed. If that happens, the runtime PM resume callback
pvr_power_device_resume() is not called, the GPU clocks are not
re-enabled, and the kernel crashes on the next attempt to access GPU
registers as part of the power-on sequence.
Replace calls to pm_runtime_force_suspend() and
pm_runtime_force_resume() with direct calls to the driver's runtime PM
callbacks, pvr_power_device_suspend() and pvr_power_device_resume(),
to ensure clocks are re-enabled and avoid the kernel crash.
Impact
CVE-2025-38521 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (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.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-38521? CVE-2025-38521 is a high-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2025-38521? CVE-2025-38521 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (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-2025-38521? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-38521 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2025-38521 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-38521 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-2025-38521 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.