CVE-2025-38733: linux kernel vulnerability

What is known

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/mm: Do not map lowcore with identity mapping Since the identity mapping is pinned to address zero the lowcore is always also mapped to address zero, this happens regardless of the relocate_lowcore command line option. If the option is specified the lowcore is mapped twice, instead of only once. This means that NULL pointer accesses will succeed instead of causing an exception (low address protection still applies, but covers only parts). To fix this never map the first two pages of physical memory with the identity mapping.

Business impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-38733, a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) affecting linux kernel, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration.

Recommended administrator action

Confirm whether linux kernel is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.

Sources

• NVD
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference