# CVE-2025-38534: netfs: Fix copy-to-cache so that it performs collection with ceph+fscache

> A logic error in the Linux kernel's netfs copy-to-cache mechanism causes requests to hang when using Ceph with fscache, leading to a denial of service.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2025-38534, GHSA-6rpm-59f8-4x64, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38534

## What is CVE-2025-38534?

CVE-2025-38534 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Aug 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfs: Fix copy-to-cache so that it performs collection with ceph+fscache

The netfs copy-to-cache that is used by Ceph with local caching sets up a
new request to write data just read to the cache.  The request is started
and then left to look after itself whilst the app continues.  The request
gets notified by the backing fs upon completion of the async DIO write, but
then tries to wake up the app because NETFS_RREQ_OFFLOAD_COLLECTION isn't
set - but the app isn't waiting there, and so the request just hangs.

Fix this by setting NETFS_RREQ_OFFLOAD_COLLECTION which causes the
notification from the backing filesystem to put the collection onto a work
queue instead.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38534?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-38534?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-38534 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38534 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-38534 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-38534 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 16 Aug 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38534 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-38534/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-38534/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38534
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-38534
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-38534

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-38534/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.