# CVE-2025-38611: vmci: Prevent the dispatching of uninitialized payloads

CVE-2025-38611 is fixed in 36 products on 1 platform, first by CVE-2025-38611, released August 19, 2025. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-38611
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 5.5 (Moderate)
- EPSS: n/a
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Aug 19, 2025
- Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-38611

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  vmci: Prevent the dispatching of uninitialized payloads  The reproducer executes the host's unlocked_ioctl call in two different tasks. When init_context fails, the struct vmci_event_ctx is not fully initialized when executing vmci_datagram_dispatch() to send events to all vm contexts. This affects the datagram taken from the datagram queue of its context by another task, because the datagram payload is not initialized according to the size payload_size, which causes the kernel data to leak to the user space.  Before dispatching the datagram, and before setting the payload content, explicitly set the payload content to 0 to avoid data leakage caused by incomplete payload initialization.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | kernel-uek ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-devel ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-devel ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-deprecated ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-deprecated ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-desktop ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-desktop ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra-netfilter ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-extra-netfilter ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-usb ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-usb ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-wireless ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-debug-modules-wireless ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-devel ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-devel ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-doc ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-doc ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-deprecated ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-deprecated ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-desktop ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-desktop ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra-netfilter ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-extra-netfilter ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-usb ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-usb ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-wireless ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-modules-wireless ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-tools ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek-tools ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-devel ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-devel ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-core ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-core ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-deprecated ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-deprecated ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-desktop ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-desktop ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra-netfilter ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-extra-netfilter ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-usb ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-usb ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-wireless ol 10 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | kernel-uek64k-modules-wireless ol 9 | 0:6.12.0-104.43.4.2.el9uek | [ELSA-2025-20662](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2025-20662.md) | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Linux | linux Debian 14 | 6.16.3-1 | [CVE-2025-38611](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/cve-2025-38611.md) | Aug 19, 2025 |

---

Data as of 2026-11-09T01:18:40Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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