# CVE-2025-38536: net: airoha: fix potential use-after-free in airoha_npu_get()

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Airoha NPU driver allows attackers to potentially execute code or cause a denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2025-38536, GHSA-6x9m-mw8m-fq7f, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-38536

## What is CVE-2025-38536?

CVE-2025-38536 is a high-severity use after free 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:

net: airoha: fix potential use-after-free in airoha_npu_get()

np->name was being used after calling of_node_put(np), which
releases the node and can lead to a use-after-free bug.
Previously, of_node_put(np) was called unconditionally after
of_find_device_by_node(np), which could result in a use-after-free if
pdev is NULL.

This patch moves of_node_put(np) after the error check to ensure
the node is only released after both the error and success cases
are handled appropriately, preventing potential resource issues.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-38536?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-38536?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-38536 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-38536 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-2025-38536 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-38536 is a high-severity use after free 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-2025-38536 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-2025-38536/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-38536/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-38536
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-38536
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-38536

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-38536/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.