Security assessments indicate that CVE-2025-38658 presents a notable risk, potentially requiring prompt mitigation.
Status: Analyzed
Last updated: 🕟 26 Nov 2025, 16:32 UTC
Originally published on: 🕓 22 Aug 2025, 16:15 UTC
Time between publication and last update: 96 days
CVSS Release: version 3
nvd@nist.gov
Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVE-2025-38658: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmet: pci-epf: Do not complete commands twice if nvmet_req_init() fails Have nvmet_req_init() and req->execute() complete failed commands. Description of the problem: nvmet_req_init() calls __nvmet_req_complete() internally upon failure, e.g., unsupported opcode, which calls the "queue_response" callback, this results in nvmet_pci_epf_queue_response() being called, which will call nvmet_pci_epf_complete_iod() if data_len is 0 or if dma_dir is different from DMA_TO_DEVICE. This results in a double completion as nvmet_pci_epf_exec_iod_work() also calls nvmet_pci_epf_complete_iod() when nvmet_req_init() fails. Steps to reproduce: On the host send a command with an unsupported opcode with nvme-cli, For example the admin command "security receive" $ sudo nvme security-recv /dev/nvme0n1 -n1 -x4096 This triggers a double completion as nvmet_req_init() fails and nvmet_pci_epf_queue_response() is called, here iod->dma_dir is still in the default state of "DMA_NONE" as set by default in nvmet_pci_epf_alloc_iod(), so nvmet_pci_epf_complete_iod() is called. Because nvmet_req_init() failed nvmet_pci_epf_complete_iod() is also called in nvmet_pci_epf_exec_iod_work() leading to a double completion. This not only sends two completions to the host but also corrupts the state of the PCI NVMe target leading to kernel oops. This patch lets nvmet_req_init() and req->execute() complete all failed commands, and removes the double completion case in nvmet_pci_epf_exec_iod_work() therefore fixing the edge cases where double completions occurred.
The exploitability of CVE-2025-38658 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
CVE-2025-38658 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2025-38658, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2025-38658, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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