CVE-2025-22007 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Bluetooth: Fix error code in chan_alloc_skb_cb()
The chan_alloc_skb_cb() function is supposed to return error pointers on error. Returning NULL will lead to a NULL dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-22007 represents a critical flaw in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth subsystem that stems from improper error handling within the chan_alloc_skb_cb() function. This function operates within the Bluetooth communication framework and is responsible for allocating socket buffer control blocks that facilitate data transmission between Bluetooth devices. The issue manifests when the function fails to properly return error pointers, instead returning NULL values that subsequently trigger null pointer dereference conditions during Bluetooth operations.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the chan_alloc_skb_cb() function's error return mechanism, which violates fundamental kernel programming practices and security principles. When the function encounters allocation failures or other error conditions during Bluetooth socket buffer management, it should return proper error pointers such as ERR_PTR() to indicate failure conditions to the calling code. However, the current implementation incorrectly returns NULL pointers, which creates a dangerous scenario where subsequent code attempts to dereference these null values without proper validation, leading to kernel crashes and potential system instability.
This vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Bluetooth subsystem, specifically affecting the channel allocation and socket buffer management components. The operational impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable privilege escalation or denial of service conditions that could affect any system running the affected Linux kernel version. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by triggering Bluetooth operations that cause the chan_alloc_skb_cb() function to fail, subsequently leading to kernel panic conditions that disrupt normal system operations and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL Pointer Dereference, a common security weakness that occurs when software attempts to access or manipulate a null pointer. From an operational security perspective, this flaw maps to several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation through kernel exploits and denial of service attacks targeting system stability. The flaw represents a classic example of improper error handling in kernel space code where the failure to properly signal error conditions creates exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate kernel updates and patches from Linux kernel maintainers that correct the chan_alloc_skb_cb() function to properly return error pointers instead of NULL values. System administrators should prioritize applying the official kernel patches and conducting thorough testing to ensure that Bluetooth functionality remains operational after patch deployment. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual Bluetooth activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive system logging to track any kernel panic events that could be related to this vulnerability. The fix should also include enhanced error validation procedures within the Bluetooth subsystem to prevent similar issues from occurring in related functions that handle socket buffer allocation and management operations.