CVE-2025-23158 – A Linux kernel vulnerability in the Venus media... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-23158?

CVE-2025-23158 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). A Linux kernel vulnerability in the Venus media driver allows out-of-bounds write due to improper validation of queue size values from firmware. This could lead to kernel memory corruption and potential privilege escalation. Affects systems using the Venus video firmware for hardware-accelerated video encoding/decoding.

📋 TL;DR

A Linux kernel vulnerability in the Venus media driver allows out-of-bounds write due to improper validation of queue size values from firmware. This could lead to kernel memory corruption and potential privilege escalation. Affects systems using the Venus video firmware for hardware-accelerated video encoding/decoding.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with Venus media driver enabled

Versions: Linux kernel versions before the fix commits (specific versions vary by distribution)

Operating Systems: Linux distributions using affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ✅ No

Notes: Only vulnerable if Venus media driver is loaded and used (typically on Qualcomm-based systems with hardware video acceleration)

📦 What is this software?

Debian Linux by Debian

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

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Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

Linux Kernel by Linux

The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...

Learn more about Linux Kernel →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Local privilege escalation to root, kernel panic causing system crash, or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.

🟠

Likely Case

Kernel crash leading to denial of service, or limited memory corruption affecting system stability.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if proper kernel hardening and access controls prevent local users from triggering the vulnerable code path.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local access to trigger the vulnerability.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local users or processes with access to video encoding/decoding functionality could exploit this.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access and ability to trigger video encoding/decoding operations through the Venus driver.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commits 101a86619aab42bb61f2253bbf720121022eab86 or later

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/101a86619aab42bb61f2253bbf720121022eab86

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify Venus driver is updated.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable Venus media driver

linux

Prevent loading of the vulnerable Venus driver module

echo 'blacklist venus' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-venus.conf
rmmod venus

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Restrict local user access to systems using Venus driver
Implement kernel hardening features like KASLR and stack protection

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if Venus driver is loaded: lsmod | grep venus, then check kernel version against patched versions

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify kernel version includes fix commits and Venus driver loads without errors

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel oops messages
System crashes during video operations
dmesg errors related to Venus driver

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("venus" OR "hfi") AND ("panic" OR "oops" OR "segfault")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-23158

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-787

EPSS Score: 0.02% exploit probability (6th percentile)

Published: May 1, 2025

Last Updated: November 5, 2025

🔗 References

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