CVE-2025-38563
Linux Kernel Perf Vulnerability: VMA Split Prevention
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/core: Prevent VMA split of buffer mappings The perf mmap code is careful about mmap()'ing the user page with the ringbuffer and additionally the auxiliary buffer, when the event supports it. Once the first mapping is established, subsequent mapping have to use the same offset and the same size in both cases. The reference counting for the ringbuffer and the auxiliary buffer depends on this being correct. Though perf does not prevent that a related mapping is split via mmap(2), munmap(2) or mremap(2). A split of a VMA results in perf_mmap_open() calls, which take reference counts, but then the subsequent perf_mmap_close() calls are not longer fulfilling the offset and size checks. This leads to reference count leaks. As perf already has the requirement for subsequent mappings to match the initial mapping, the obvious consequence is that VMA splits, caused by resizing of a mapping or partial unmapping, have to be prevented. Implement the vm_operations_struct::may_split() callback and return unconditionally -EINVAL. That ensures that the mapping offsets and sizes cannot be changed after the fact. Remapping to a different fixed address with the same size is still possible as it takes the references for the new mapping and drops those of the old mapping.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 19, 2025, 5:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 20, 2025, 2:40 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
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New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 19, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf/core: Prevent VMA split of buffer mappings The perf mmap code is careful about mmap()'ing the user page with the ringbuffer and additionally the auxiliary buffer, when the event supports it. Once the first mapping is established, subsequent mapping have to use the same offset and the same size in both cases. The reference counting for the ringbuffer and the auxiliary buffer depends on this being correct. Though perf does not prevent that a related mapping is split via mmap(2), munmap(2) or mremap(2). A split of a VMA results in perf_mmap_open() calls, which take reference counts, but then the subsequent perf_mmap_close() calls are not longer fulfilling the offset and size checks. This leads to reference count leaks. As perf already has the requirement for subsequent mappings to match the initial mapping, the obvious consequence is that VMA splits, caused by resizing of a mapping or partial unmapping, have to be prevented. Implement the vm_operations_struct::may_split() callback and return unconditionally -EINVAL. That ensures that the mapping offsets and sizes cannot be changed after the fact. Remapping to a different fixed address with the same size is still possible as it takes the references for the new mapping and drops those of the old mapping. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/65311aad4c808bedad0c05d9bb8b06c47dae73eb Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6757a31a8e295ae4f01717a954afda173f25a121 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7b84cb58d1f0aa07656802eae24689566e5f5b1b Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b024d7b56c77191cde544f838debb7f8451cd0d6 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e529888b7e8092912dd8789bdfc76685ccd2ff5f Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ff668930871e0198c7f4e325058b8b7c286787bd