CVE-2025-38171 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/03/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
power: supply: max77705: Fix workqueue error handling in probe
The create_singlethread_workqueue() doesn't return error pointers, it returns NULL. Also cleanup the workqueue on the error paths.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-38171 resides within the Linux kernel's power supply subsystem, specifically affecting the max77705 driver implementation. This issue demonstrates a critical flaw in error handling mechanisms that could potentially lead to system instability or resource management problems. The max77705 is a power management IC commonly used in mobile devices and embedded systems to regulate power delivery and monitor battery status, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile and portable computing platforms.
The technical flaw manifests in the driver's probe function where the create_singlethread_workqueue() API is incorrectly handled. This kernel function does not return error pointers as might be expected, but instead returns NULL upon failure conditions. The driver implementation fails to properly check for this NULL return value, leading to potential dereference of invalid pointers or improper workqueue initialization. This error handling deficiency creates a pathway for the system to continue execution with improperly initialized resources, which could result in kernel panics, memory corruption, or other stability issues during system boot or power management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple error handling failures to encompass potential system reliability concerns in embedded and mobile computing environments where the max77705 power management IC is prevalent. When the workqueue initialization fails, the driver cannot properly manage asynchronous power management tasks, potentially leading to missed power events, incorrect battery status reporting, or complete power management subsystem failures. The absence of proper cleanup on error paths compounds the issue by leaving the system in an inconsistent state where partially initialized resources remain allocated, potentially causing memory leaks or resource contention problems that could affect overall system performance and stability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper error checking and resource cleanup procedures in the driver's probe function. The fix requires ensuring that create_singlethread_workqueue() return values are properly validated against NULL before proceeding with workqueue usage, and that appropriate cleanup operations are performed on all error paths to prevent resource leaks. This aligns with established security practices outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing CWE-252, which deals with unchecked return values, and CWE-459, concerning incomplete cleanup. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling in kernel space drivers, as detailed in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's approach to kernel-level threats. System administrators should prioritize updating affected kernel versions to ensure proper implementation of workqueue error handling, particularly in mobile and embedded systems where the max77705 power management IC is utilized, as these platforms often lack the redundancy and recovery mechanisms found in server environments.